The New York herald., 1845-01-31


and said that majority Of the people OF the United
States were decidedly favorable 10 such modifi
cation
Mr.. Ba.EsE conteAdei for lower schedule of
charg-s If the reduction in England had in.
creased the number of letters carried through the
public mals four or five told, why should not like
reduction prodsce smilar and even greater IN
crease in the correspondence among our people,
scattered as they over a much broader surface
of co ,utry He doubted not but the lowest possi-
BILE reduction would increase the number OF letters
in Two or three years to i've times their pressen.
amount He should propose that instead OF nve
cents upon single letters OF half an ounce, &c ior
fifty miles, to extend the distance for this charge
TO 100 miles.
Mr. WoosURY was opposed TO any scale OF re-
duc,on that would throw the expense OF the de-
paument, or any part OF 1t, upon Inc tIeasuy.r ne
was, therefore, IN favor OF tne n"nssa ,,he
IT reduced the mini Inum TO three cents, 10 extend
the maximum ~ Is cents Great as the social ad-
vantage would be from the very lowest reduction,
though il might give the means Or
" Soft intercourse from soul to SOUL
And watt sigh from Indus to the pole,"
yet Mr. Woodbury. would not have it done at the
expense OF the treasury. We now had an annual
through the post Offices of the United States, and
# gentlemen expected this amount by any reduction
10 be increased four fod, they would be mistaken.
The increase in England had not heeu more than
three fold-for IN the last year OF the old system
there were seveny-hve millions OF letters carried
through the English mails, while in l64S, under
the penny system, there had been only two hun
dred and eleven millions The chairman had cal
cuated our increase at 10 per cent, other gentle
men OF the House had estimated it only at 50 per
cent, and even If the increase were two fold, the
considerate reduction. Mr. Woodbury. thought
the English system OF prepayment would be one oi
great advantage to the post office revenues. and
ought 70 be engrafted in the bill
Mr.. NILES, with much clearness in his statistical
comparisons between the English and American
post Office facilities distances, and expenses, ar
sued, notwithstanding our disadvantages, that the
constantly accommodating increase OF epis'olatory
correspondence from low rates of postage-the
very lowest proposed-would ultimately afford
most ample subsistence to the Department.. Mr.
Niles declared himself in favor OF the amendment
Of his colleague, Mr. Huntington.
Mr.. BUCHANAN thought that the Senate were
ready to act upon the bill, and that the bill should
be passed speedily He was inclined TO go tor the
scale of postages, as reported from the Com
mittee. In reducing the present exhorbtant
rates, we should not rush into the other ex-
treme. He objected to the three cent amend; md;
New Jersey. There were no GENTS IN
South Carolina, although there was great amount
of sense in that State. In all the States OF the
south cents were not used among the exchanges OF
the people, and were scarcely ever seen. THIS
three cent clause would therefore be no advantage
to the south, while 1t would much diminish the re
venues from the class OF letters upon whlchr V
pro ospd to be fixed. Mr. B. was opposed 10 the
Department becoming charge upon the Treasury.
He had looked into this matter with bis eyes open,
portsnt subect. He should 60 tor the rates reporl-
ed from the committee, and was happy 10 s,ce
with the chairman 10 tins matter, though he hao
been compelled IN other Instances to vote agains'
him.
Mr. MERRIcK thanked the honorable Senator.
and both senator bowed and smiled very politely
toward each Other
Mr. CRITTRNDEN asked the state of the question
as il now stood.
The CHAR (Mr. Evans) Explained the rates pro-
posed by the committee, The amendment ofier"d
by Mr. Miller yesterday, and the ams Hdment tp
the amendment by Mr. Huut,ns,on
Mr.. CR,TrENpHN declared h,mseH 10 favor Of
the scale reported by the chairman nt he post a,
fee committee and urged upon the Senate th'
propriety OF act,on for these amendmrn MS upon
amend m-nts only tended to the destruction Of The
measure itself, from downright exhaustion.
TIE CHAIR declared the question 10 he upon the
amendment 10 the amendment of Mr.. Huntmsten,
as given above. The ayes and noes were called,
and II wdsreJected-lS o y
Mr. MiLLEs's anne odment for reducing the rates
10 the following standard -
For single letters of half nm ounce, &c for dis
tances not exceeding 80 miles. :......... cents
Over 80 and not exceeding 100 miles cents
over 100, and not exceeding 800 miles .. 10 cents
WAS next aS, %i. rejected bv d,vsion-is 20 29 ~
Mr.SIMMoNs now moved to amend,to extend the
five cent distance upon single letters, OF half an
ounce, &c., from 100 miles to 250 miles
Mr.. MERRIcK said that the only effect OF this
amendment would be TO cut of all the revenues OF
the department.
Mr. SIMMONS said. that's got to be tried and ar
sued.
Mr. MERRIcK declined any argument on that
question.
Mr.. SIMMONS called for the ayes and noes.
Mr.. MERRICK said that the result of the amend
ment plain. Ii would quadruple the amount
of the five cent letters, and produce a correspond
ing reduction of the revenues OF the department..
Mr.. BUcHArAN-"Y Yes, that's it-thal's it,"
The amendment was rejected-2l to 25
Mr.. BRKEsH moved to amend, as that the
charge upon any letter, not exceeding in weight
half an ounce, should be carried any distance tor
i've cents.
Mr. DICKINSON asked an explanation.
Mr. BRRRsE said ii was 10 prevent this spying
into letters ln the Post Offices. This prying into
letters was very bad. The amendment was re-
iected.
Mr. NILES moved IN amendment, spoke at length
in explanation Of it, and was answered by Mr..
Msrfck in opposition, 10 whom Mr.. Niles again
replied, ard allied for the ayes and nays.
The amendment is as foows:-
Strike out 6rt section sfer the enacng cluse to the
two cent clause for drcp letters &C. and insert the follow
That from and af the passage OF this act all letcrs
tho mail shall he rated and charged th post
age .. Letter , Or a1ket conveyed accord
cseii1g hundred miles. she'll be rated and charged
nvs cents postage and each letter or packet convey
and charged ten cents postage And each letter and
packet, whether composed Of one pieces
tainng enclosure not which shall not exceed
half ounce in weight, shall be considered single letter
and rated and charged accordingly weighing more
than half and not xceeding three quarters of
shall tie considered double letter. and charged
the aforesaid rates Of postage; weighing than
three-qusrters and not exceeding ounce shall b.
considered treble letter, and charged three times the
aforesaid rates and tor evey additional half ounce,
fraction Of half ounce IN shall be charged the
single letter: Provided That it shall not be lawful to
encese In letter conveyed in the mail any ether let
letters directed to different person persons
enclose several letters directed different persons
one envelope; and any person who shall dep0site, OIL
cause to be deposited in any post office. to be ed
In the mall any letter containing letters
closed, directed to different depose,
to be deposited several letters directed to different
persons enclosed in envelope and the persen receiv
ing the who shall deliver he delivered
the persons whom the directed any letter
letters unlawfulIy conveyed in the mall shall for
felt the of twenty dollars-onehsf the infomer
and the other half to the Post Office Department snd Il
shall be the duty OF ell Postmaster report all violation,
of this provision Of this act, which may then
knowledge to the District Attorney OF the United States
for the district in which the offence may be committed