New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-23
pThe Chapter Of Political History upon
THE Post ONCE EiIl.

ulations and if 90 what is 1t 10 be :! One which
tho people demand aud need or one which oPPres-
ses their interests and eutrages their rights OnH
which aids business and ministers 70 all the inter
course and happiness Of society, or one which tor
ever brushes private enterprise end cuts on thcus-
snds of Industrious personl from their Chief sources
of intellectual and moral culture?
Both these measures lave been fairly presented,
and Congress has now but few days to make the
election. The People have demanded a Red"c-
tioa in the Rates Of Postage-cne which shai!
be safe for tue Government and most setviceabie
10 the Public. In the faith, well founded upon
official estimates that very considerable reduc
ton from the rates now demanded would not
ipjure but aid The revenue, the whole country in
sists that it should be made. Their Interests re-
qure it, and their rights entiilc them to demand
it. They ask aid, relief from their Improbable
burdens: and Congress gives them more weight
to stasger under. Mr.. MER.IcK's bill of Pains
and Penalties--a bill which has been received
with q louder and more unanimous conde mnatiop
than any other ever oTered-a bill which iniores
al! and aids none-a bill founded solely upon the
allegation that private enterprise has toe wide 3
scope, that the business of individuals is in too
fourishing state, that citizens are growing Iich
By serving the people better than the government
can,-this bill SO justly obnoxious to all parties,
of oil ranks and profes sions-lung out in defiance
of their wishes and in avowed hostility to THEN
interests-has already passed House, aud II
half throug the other; while the first, demanded
by the People and unopposed from any quarter
has not yet been fairly touched by either!
What such legislation means we cannot conceive
There is no reason in it. 1t oulrages common
sense. It trenches upon the rights, and rampcs
upon the interests Of every man who has the least
concern in it; and the only plea alleged is, tina
Government needs the revenues that creates
-..- Of the svails Of industry must go into the
public purse. Now, momests reflection must
convince every onc that this end will not be reached
in the way proposed. The only effect of the bill
will be, to stop the transmission Of the sbnox ious
matter: not tenth part of what is sent BY
expresses will ever go into the mail; the expresses
will be ruined the publishers of magazines, of all
cheap papers, and of all pamphlets, will be injured
tie great mass of readers will be burdened with
an enormous expense, which they can never bear,
ard will thus be cheated Of their daily and other
journals; the interests of no class will be aided
and yet the Treasury itself will gain not a dollar
by the operation. AS to the light Of the matter
Congress might jsst as properly declare that every
bale OF cotton goods under given SIZE shall go
by mail and pay postage-or go otherwise, and
pay fine; just as rightfuy might it levy upon
flour or broadcloth or any other article of frequen,
transportation, upon these and so far as rev.
enue is concerned, it would be far more profitable
TO do SO.
Before policy like this is adopted, let us know
some substantial reason for it. Let US know b,
whom and for wha, it is asked. Let some public
voice demand or vndicac it. at all events, Con-
sress, IN Its haste to saddle this burden upon the
people, should not lose sight of that which they
have halt promised to remove If the Post-C flee
must be converted into monopoly of the mos,
odious character, et its exaclons be regulated by
It's interest and the wants Of the Peopc-not BY
"antonness and a disregard of all right and all
uuiity. 1t this blt mast pass-though we cannot
believe that it w-let the reduction oil Postage
DO effected also. The Peone ask for bread give
them h.s at least, ii the stone must follow.
Ut The Herald habitually distorts the testi-
moay taken before the Court Martial, IN order ev.
ldently TO prejudice the case OF Capt. MAcKEh.
ziE. That winch appears 10 bear ssanst nam Is
set forth IN italics and small capitals, Incidental
remarks )ustityias discrediung witnesses are
thrown in, and false colesirg Is given to the
Whole inyes,i y.ii,n nv the partial manner IN