Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-01-25

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
An adjourned meeting of the citizens Of
New York, favorable 10 reduction Of
tie rates Of postage, was held az the Ex
change in that city, Thursday afternoon
). DePtysier Ogden. E,q., presiding.
Horace Greeley, E.q. Chairman of the
Committee APPOINTED at the former me, t.
ling, reported series Off solutions, which
were adopted without n dissenting voice.
These resolutions, il strikes US, cover The
whole ground of the present movement !;
snd the third one sets forth the leading
points in a line or two-namely, that
while the Post Office Department should
maintsin itself, the Government should
pay its own postage, and hot require in.
dIviduals 10 bear the burlisen of It's ini-
menss correspondence, and that of those
to whom it extend. the frauking privilege.
The resolutions alluded TO are as follows ::
ReSofred, Tina, we expressly disc!aIm
any lRtenli,'n or desire 10 devolve on the
Treasury of the United States the cost of
conveying the letters and papers Of indi.
viduals; bu. insist that the Post Office
department shall sustain itself, rs hther-
to, by charges on the matter conveyed IN
the Mails.
| Resolved, That il is our deliberate con.
viclion that the Post Office cannst longer
deirny its own expenses if the present
Rates of Postage are retained and the
multiplication OF unprofta bic Mail Routes
is extended; for we cannot be blind to
the TACT that the Correspondence Of The
country is finding for itself, more and
more extensive, cheaper, safer and more
expeditions modes Of transmission on all
the most profitable Routes and unless
this tendency is arrested by thorough
Reform in the management of the Post
Office, the virtual abandonment Of the
Mails by the great bulk Of the BUSINESS
CorresI ondence Of the country cannot be
! far distant.
ReSolred, That while We insist that
the Post Office shall MAINTAIN itself, aud
ask that it be permitted TO do so. we insist
also tha, The Government shall support IL
sell, anl not cast the bulthen OF i,s inn
mems Correspondence, and that of every
! body to whom it cho SIS to extend the
Franking Privilege, upon the private COR
respondence oi the County; which we
deem a. unreasonable rs TO comp,l tie
Commerce Of tie Country TO bui It's Ma
Wy gratis, or the tanners as distinct
class 10 s1bs,st its soldiers n sailors.
Resolced, rnat We adhrr, To our pre-
vionsi ,xprt IS, conviction that charge
of fire cents TN ,very letter nveyei IN
ne MAIDS, aud corrrs spending rate for
| Printed Matter, viii sust lin the Depart.
ment; and We submit il to the WIS ION OF
Congress 10 decide whether these Rates
shall be uniform for all distances, or acer-
age - that IS higher and lower than thu
stan lard rae according to the distance
trsversed. Whichev,r Ian appears Ike,
~ 10 secure tho larger TRANSMISSION oil
teIs by the Mails ought to be adopted, but
our own conviction is decidedly in favor
Of VA form rate of five cents per single
letter, il paid in advance.
Resolred, That we call on the People
Of the whole Country to speak out prompt.
iy, through letter and petitions to Con
gress, in favor OF a Reducti'n ofthe r lies
OF Postage, assured that the Cause is theirs
as well as ours-the cause Of every Ciu-
zen who desires the cheap md uni efsal
fusion Of Light, knowledge and Truth;
and confident that the Public Go ID must
prevail over private privl,gt and Indlvd-
ual g in, if the Peopl~'s voice is but heard,
as il must be if their attention can be gen,
orally drawn to the subject.
The meeting was addressed by Park
Benjamin and Theadore Srdgwick, Esqs,
We would sugg ST to such OF oar ciu-
zens as are favorable TO c cap syst IN
of postage, the p oprety ola movement
on the subject herr. Meetings have been
held in lie clrirs and towns OF Massachu-
sets, Pennsylvania, New York. New
Jersey and Connecticut, at all OF which
resolutions favorable to a reduction of
postage and the abolition of the ranking
privilege have been adopted with great
unanimity.