Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-02
Cheap and gutform Postage.

Sncnp nnu SnfOrm POSTAGE.
A large and mos, respectable meeting Of the ciii-
zens OF New York. convened, pursuant to public no.
uce, in the Rotunda Of the Merchants Exchange,
and was organized by calling Curtis Bolton to the
Chair, appointing w. w. Todd and others Vice
Presidents, with =. NJ. We,more and Park Benia.
min as Secretaries.
Mr.. Park Benjamin read preamble and resolu>
tons which set forth that the prescn, rates Of post
age are oppressive and unjust, and should be
changed for system that would secure n safe and
speedy and a, the same time a cheaper and more
equitable transmission of letters He called for the
abolishing forthwith Of the Frcnking privilege anj
recommended public meetings in the wards and
towns 10 petition Congress in relation to this mat
ter.
memorial to Congress was adopted in the fol.
lowing form.
l. That the Rates Of Postage now imposed hy
the Government are exorhant, oppressive TO the
people, and calculated to deea, their avowed object
of mixing the Pos,-ofFce Department, pay its own
expenses.
.. Tha, the franking privilege. as II is now au
thorized and exercised is unjust, unequal, antrc-
publican, and ougb, to he utterly abolished except
as it may he expedient TO allow it to cover the
strictly official correspondence OF the Pos>ofcc
! Department itself.
3. That not one third of the correspondence Of
the country now pays postage in the mails. nor
will it until the rates of postage are greatly reduced
and the frankins privilgc abolished.
4. Thnta uniform charge of fire cents, in al.
vance, on each letter weighing not more than hail
ounce the eater, for all distances would afford a,
least as much revenue, and be vastly beneficial
TO the public, than the prescr, exorbant rates.
5. That the presen, arbitrary, capricnus and ex-
cessive charges on the conveyance Of printed mat
ter other than newspapers in the mails, seems di,
rec,ly calculated to drive away custom from the
Department, when its plain interest should lead il
To cOult and attract business all cf us are obliged
to do if we would live by it. We would therefore
request the adoption of uniform rate of postage o
one half cent on every newspaper, PERIODICAL, or
printed sheet, conveyed in the mail, when the post
age is paid in advance, and double tina, sum OF
c'ch sheet which may be so conveyed, when i, i.
not So paid in advance.
6. That the reduction of our rates Of postage Il
sums computed, snd payable in the Federal Cur
rrncy of this Union, is demanded by Just regar,
to national character, no less than to the obviou
convenience of the people.
7. That the penal enactments and derun Citations
by which it is sought to compel the people to sup
port the Post Office, when their own interest an,
convenience may be better suhserved withou, il
are a surd tyrsnnical, inefficient for any good pur
pose and ought to he abolished.
At the suggestion OF Lewis Tappan, the Gt
neral Commiite was ordered to he enlarged t
twcnly.one, the President Of the meeting bein
Chairman and said committee was au,horiz"d
coec, facts and funds, and do every thing in il
power TO promote the object Of postage reform.