New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-15

ylrP
CHARGES and Mail matter is constantly hhoihg
cheaper channels of conveyance, reduction 70
onc.tAird Of the present charges on Letters anu
one-dalf on printed matter, in case OF payment M
advance, will be certain, by bringing PACK 'ie
letters to the Mails and greatly increasing tae
frequency and extent of correspondence % III
crease the Revenue of the Department. restore
the popularity and efficiency OF the service, and
qrea,lv promote the convenience, happiness,
intelligence, and well-being OF the People
Such are, substantially, our positions with re-
gard to Post Office Reform and whatever pun
ishment they deserve we are ready to take now
What The Madisonian and It's very opposite
correspondent are chuckling over, we suppose, IS,
that the Postage revision will abolish the Prlvi
leges now accorded to Editors Of receiving their
Exchange papers free and also such letters en-
closing subscriptions and payments as the lost
masters see fit to frank. But we are beforehand
with these magnanimous gentlemen. We have
personally urged upon the Post Office Committee
of the House, and such other Members OF Con-
gress as we conversed with while recently at
Washington, the abolition of these very yprlvileges
and all others like them. So our smart friends OF
the Official. take nothing here by their motion
We are quite aware that we should pay for more
Possape under the reduced than under the present
Rates; but what Of that Let Postage be re-
duced as it should be, and If we cannot live by
printing newspapers we will try something else.
We have no fears, however, and beseech The
Madsonan 10 borrow no trouble on our account.
The correspondent Of the Official labors under
two serons defccts-lack of penetration and lack
of truth. When ne says that not one thousand
persons have seriously asked for Reduction of
Postage he speaks not merely at random but
with foolish disregard Of notorious facts. When
he asserts that not one hundred and ffty attend
cd the Postage Reform Meeting IN the Exchange,
he again talks at random and most untruly.
What he says about signatures to petitions IN
| favor of Postage Reform being obtained at cent
a name, we are confident is likewise untrue,
bu. we have no positive knowledge in the premI-
scs If II were true, we do NOT see how
it affects the main issue. His implication that
those Who pctition for Postage Reduction are not
in earnest, or do not know what they are about,
is another cross mistake. II he doubt 1t, let hlm
PC; III, a memorial and stand IN our most crowd
ed thorcughfarc asking all who pass to petition
0r4iaSi the desired Reduction and in favor OF the
present Rates Let him try TO live on TIC net
droceeds at a cent a name If he dare. They
would not keep l,im in snail soup single week
Al that is said about disinterestcd newspaper
publishers may pass for what ii is worth. ihe
immediate effects OF a cheap adyancc-pay sys-
TEN would doubtless be adcerst to the publishing
interest and cause it much trouble, though event
ually this interest would be benefited, along with
all Others But the question is not how this or
that interest would be affected, but what is de-
manded by justice and the general welfare On
this ground is the Reform advocated; why are
irs opponents to anxious to avoid it
The correspondents assertions that The great
mass of the People care nothing about the mat
ter; on an average, not one lnhabltant IN thou
sand writes letter year. &c. we leave to such
comments as they naturally incitc But writer
for the press ought to have more shrewdness than
to argue in one paragraph that business men do
not care how high the Rates Of Postage are, be-
cause they transfer the tax to the consumers of
their goods, and in the very next paragraph that
'the great mass care nothing about the matter
because heY do not ,orite letters Has not the
blocl1head Just shown that they ought to care,
becaute the cost of the business mems Postage is
ultimately charged to and paid by them
One word on the shadow of Reform patronlzed
by this correspondent of The Madisonian. He
thinks reduction of the Rates to Federal Cur.
rencv will answer the purpose. We tell hilA and
his master that this aoill not answer. OF course
the present systematic exaction of l3 cents for
l21 and 10 for lS} will not long be endured;-
but this is tritlc. The People are awakened to
the necessity of genuine, thorough, radical Re-
form: and two-penny concession will diminish
the Revenue of the Department without at all
satisfying the public expectation. No change
which does not reduce the present Rates more
than one-half will answer any purpose whatever.
If Congress does not concur IN this view, all the
favor we ask is vote by YEAS AND NAYS on a
proposition of sweeping Reform. We will look
to public sentiment for the rest
People of the United States! they say at
Washington that you rarely write letters and do
not desire Reduction Of Postage! Why will
you not just draw up petition in each township,
asking sucha reduction as you think proper-ora
continuance of the present Rates, if such be your
wll-pass 1t around the neighborhood, and de-
spatch it to your Representative at Washington
1t is nothing to do-just say what you want in
three lines, and put your names to it. Only let
Congress understand that you are in earnest in
this matter, and the thing is done.