Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-15
THE TENTH WEEK OF THE SESSION.

VI
Progress has been made in Congress during the
past week on several important questions.
In the SENATE, nearly the whole week was spent
i'm discussion of the details of the bill, which had
occupied the two preceding weeks, for reducing
the rates Of Postage on letters Sc transmitted oy
The Mail The discussion has, however, been
brought to close in that body; the bill having
paSyed on Saturday, by the surprising majority OF
twenty-six votes, all the members OF the senate
except two being present This bill proposes
greater reduction Of postage than we should have
advised, the highest postage left upon single letters
and packages weighing not more than half an ounce
Cor any and all distances being five cents, instead Of
the existing postage, which, as our readers know,
varies, according to distance, from six and quarter
cents to twenty-five cents for each single letter. and
for double treble, and larger and heavier letters in
proportion. We should have counselled less rate
of reduction, because we believe that for year
two at least the revenue of the Post Office, under
The operation Of this change, will fall short of its
penses, and must necessarily be made good from
the Treasury. We are reconciled TO this inconve-
nig ace to the Government however by the increas-
ed accommodation to be afforded to the People, and
by the further consideration that this reduction will
pace the mail on footing Of something like equali-
~ with the private expresses, the interference Of
which with the Government mails however conve-
nient it may have been found between particular
ponts, has always appeared to us to have unhappiy
nerfered with the intention of the Constitution to
piece the subject Of post-ofices and postroads ex-
ciesively within the control of the General Govern
msnt. BY this bill the privilege of franking letters
Is taken away from Postmasters and other Officers
q Government, with few exceptions, and in lieu
thereof they to receive credit for the amount of
postage on letters concerning the business Of their
respective offices, &c.-and severe enactments are
male against the abuses Of the Thanking privilege
which are said extensively to prevail. Members OF
Congress are to retain the ranking privilege as j,
exists, with the restriction Of it to letters written by
themselves.
Il would be subject of regret that bill which
has cost the Senate so much labor, and the prnci-
pie of which is undoubtedly approved by the gene
RAJ sense OF the people in every part of the country
should fail In the other House upon its details
OF which, at this late period Of the Session. there
is great danger, should the attempt be made to eff
ts;t any material change in the bill, even though
that change be improvement We incline to
wish, therefore, that the bill may pass the House
without opening its Details and that trial of it may
be made as it stands. We ourselves have objection
TO some of its provisions but we have greater OBJ
jection to the continuance of the present onerous
system for whole year longer, short of the expi-
ration OF which time there is possibility of Con-
gress acting upon the subject if the present oppor
tunty be suffered to pass away unimproved. No
On out,,o ha
versally acceptable and it is hazarding little to say
that, if the present bill fail, is even chance
whether any bill on the subject will be passed these
five years.
The Report of the Senate's Committee on For
eign Relations upon the .4nncrafion subject, made
Tuesday last has been spread before our readers
at large; but for the information Of that class of
them whose occupations do not allow them the
necessary time TO master papers of such volume
and copiousness, we have prepared an abstract Of
the report, which such readers will find in the fol-
lowing columns.
The bill for the establishment of Territorial
Government in Oregon, which passed the House
of Representatives early in the week, and was re-
fcrred in the Senate to the Committee on Terri
tories, has been reported back from that committee.
The bill ought now, it seems to u.s. to be referred
10 the Committee on Foreign Relations, to inquire,
not whether the passage Of such bill is under ex-
listing circumstances, recommended by anv very
urgent necessity-for TINT inquiry was nronerlv
within the province Of the Committee on Terr;to.
ries--but whether the passage of such n bill would
- compatible with the spirit of existing treaties he
lerp NE United States and foreign Powers or with
that comfy which is much part Of internaton,,
law as is the faith of treaties. Sagacous and rea.
soning men begin to open their eyes to the conse-
quences OF inconsderate action in this matter. In
proof of which we copy from the Journal of Com
merce" the following paragraph, plainly indicating
how the pulse of the substantial merchants of the
great cities is affected by the tendency Of this
question:
: We are free to express our opinion says the
journal OF Commerce, " that this bill ought not to
pass. Whether designed to be operative or mop
erative the first year. it ought not to pass because,
N 'ne former case, il would be palpable viola
non OF the Convention, and in the latter, an unne-
cessary and useless provocation of Great Britain.
20 lar as TINS we are prepared to TO- viz to rive
her respectful notice Of our wish to terminate the
Joint occupancy. We should then be in q condi-
ton, at the end of one year. to take such further
measures with view to the adjustment of The
controversy, as might be deemed expedient.''
Corresponding opinions on this subject are gravelv
cxprcssedb by many others whose Judgment is emit
tied TO respect