Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-25

Mr. a. stated, in moving Tor secohu 'eau'"s -
this bill by special order, that ne had cnose" "
!, - nm Isave with view that It might be printed,
"a far,ed IN the Committee the Post Olhce and
Pos, Roads; because the bill being long ADD contain
inc many provisions relating TO intricate anu oi1''
subjects il would be more CONVENIENT ano aseeaoe
tho oihpr members OK the committee 10 nave an opPo
tn;,r n examine il carefully IN their chambers IN
r;n,d form before they gave their formal consent 10
i,s d tails although, while he hao oeen eh9aSeu :"
prevarinp the bill, the committee had seVe,ai times
conferred upon the subject and ihere appeared 70 DC
general concurrence in their views And BESIDES, ne
e,oec,ed when the bill should be returned from Tue
committee i, would be accompanied by written re-
mort, and therefore it better that they shouia nave
ii IN printed form at once -.
Mr. N said while he was up as this was subject
ms, nov .cnp some interest in the Senate, ana IN
,e country he would briefly state what were the gen
era features of the bill The first ana eaong ieal1e
(sad Mr. NJ is a large reduction OF all the rates OF
nostage charged under the existing ia"s VIZ PloPose
by this bill that there shall be charged IN future upon
All lus,s in manuscript not exceeding one half OF an
ounce in weight five cents for transporting 'hem any
distance nct more than one hunofed nn'ies, ana ten
cents for all greater distances; and double those rates
for letters exceeding half an ounce IN weight ana MOI
rcead;nc Of ounce and tor oil let
tiers exceeding three quarters oil an ounce IN "e'gn'
and not exceeding ounce, trebie lhose rates. anu
so on II is further proposed 10 aer me fa'es OF ne"s
naper postage so allow all OF them, uhoer Ger
an ,e,.onable size to circulate free of all charge for
hostage within the county where printed, and TO be
charged with one half centtor being conveyed by mall
less than hundred miles, and beyond the limits OF the
county in which printed ana one cent ioi any elea'e'
distance; and imposing additional burdens upon those
xcos,velv orge sheets which of late have greatly
ncumbercd The mails. BY another provision oil the oi
the mode OF charging postage upon pahlphlets, haga
zines and other printed matter IS proposed 10 oe aereo
and The charge be made IN future upon all sucn mat
.- hv weirh instead OF By the sheet and the old rates
are nronosed to be considerably reduced 80 much Tor
rates of postage The bill! also proposes to abolish the
franklin prieege il now exists, and in place thete
Of To require all the postage on correspondence on
Government account, to be paid out OF the con-
funds of the several bureaus and departments,
,ronerlv cbarreabe Herewith and to allow mtmbers
} If conr,ess as privilege, which it could rot be
nroper 10 take from their constituents, to rece We all
letters pettons, memorials, &c, which their tonsti-
,nen,s NAV be pleased To send them, free of postage
and also to cause them TO be furnished by the l@t VI
flee Departments with certain spcoifed and limited
number Of free stamps enveops, by which meass, all
abuses of the nature now complained OF will bs Ger
tonly and efecnally prevented, and the freedom OF
intercommunicaton between the members Of Congress
and their constituents will be preserved Tor oil tene
cial PURPOSES An effort is also made, in addition 10
the persuasive effect Of the OF The rates
fchurges, put end, by suitable penal enactnents
10 the great and alarming frauds upon the legitimate
revenues of the Post Office Department, now go fire.
queny perpetrated by the private expresses, establish
ed upon ALL or almost all, the most productive ct the
post routes in the country. This is ndispansaby ne
revenues
the establishment will become an annual charge upon
the general Treasury, too heavy 10 be borne.
have given at this time, this brief synopsis ef the
leading features of this BILL that both the Senate and
country may at the general scope of my own
views upon this interesting subject, and those of the
other members of The committee, far as have yet
been able to collect Them and to the end that We may
be further enlightened upon the subject by any sug
gesons which gentlemen here, or intelligent pub
lie, may see proper make before the time for final
action upon the subject That material and important
eorms must be made and that speedily, in this branch
OF the public service, is apparent TO all; and
cerey hope the plan have proposed WILL in the main,
prove effsctual and satisfactory TO the Senate and 10
the country; or, if does not now appear &c be So,
that it will be so altered and mod fed, during its pro-
gress through this body, as to be made TO answer
these very desirable ends The bill then read and
referred 10 the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
NAVY FUND.
Mr. BAiARD presented JOINT Resolutions from
the Naval Committee to invest the Naval Hospital
Fund
CONSULAR OFFICE
MIR. SAMPLE. Of Illinois, presented RESOLUTION
calling for information in reference TO the Consus,
Vice Consus and Consular Agents ofthc Government,
with view Of improving the present system.
NJ, EVANS. fCbairman ' Of the Committee ON Fl.
nance then addressed The Senate at length in reply
to Mr. McDuffe and in defence of the great principles
Of the existing Tariff, which had been assaied by The
Senator from South Carolina. Mr.. f. spoke until )
O'Clock, when at the suggestion OF Mr. Bates, he gave
way 10 motion submitted by
Mr. ALLEN of Ohio that the Senate 20 into Exc
cuve session. Mr. a. said that II was necessary una,
u.~ cs-s act ur"" come matters to day when cou'o
not he considered at any utiIei time.
After some time spent in Executive session the
doors we're opened and the Senate adj ourned.
P S. The Senate, ii is sld, of certainty, will re-
iect the nomination OF Mr. Porter as Secretary of War.
The Committee having charge of the nomination have
.ta1 him
acted upon to-day i Baltimore .amuienn
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. HUDSON announced the attendance OF his COL
league, Mr.. Osmyn Baker, and the oath to support the
constitution having been administered 10 MI BAKER by
the Speaker, he took his seat
ELECTIONS by GENERAL TICKET,
Mr. DOUGLASS, from the Committee on Elections,
which had been instructed by resolution OF the House
inquire into the legality OF the elections OF the mem
bers returned from the States of New Hampshire, Mis-
souri,, Georgia, and Mississippi made report thereon,
concluding with the following resolutions
Resocfd That the second section OF an "hct Tor the
appointment of the representatives. among the several
States according the sixth census, approved June
o. 1912 is lao made in pursuance OF the consti-
tuition of the u S and valid, operative and binding
upon the States.
Resoired, That all the members Of this House, lex
ceptinc the two contested from Virginia. upon
which no opinion is hereby expressed) have been elect
ed in conformity with the constitution and laws, and
are entitled to their seats in this House
On motion of Mr. DOUGLASS, the above report
was referred to the Committee OF the Whole House,
and ordered TO be printed.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, leave was granted to the
minority ofsaid committee to make report on the same
subject.
Mr. ELMER moved to assign tomorrow two weeks
as the day for considering this subject.
The SPEAKER informed the gentleman from New
Jersey, that This being privileged question: mrjorI-
ty of the House could take it up at any time
Mr. ELMER then gave notice that he would call up
The report ton Two weeks, Immediately after the
expiration Of the morning hour.
Mr. SLlDELL submitted The following resolution,
which was considered and adopted
Reso,cd, That the Postmaster General present to
this House the reasons and causes, SO far may be
known 10 the Department, of the frequent failures Of
the mail between The City of Washington and New Or
leans; and that he suggest also, what MEANS under the
control Of the Department. exist to insure more regular
delivery ofthe said mail; and whether II contemplated
10 change the mode of trans poaton OF the mail over
any portion of said route
PETITION DAY.
The SPEAKER announced that The order of the day