Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-02-27
I'll e RAID OF THE TIME IS.

'hhh'bNts !" pit-
serve us as nation, Such influences are
to be found IN the intercourse OF our peo-
pie that sort of intercourse which epga-
ges the heart and keeps up The connec-
ton between mind and mind through The
me- edipm Of good Offices, not only by acts
of personal kindness, but such as are car
RED on by epistolary correspondence
among ncquaiDtances, and those con-
necied by affection or kindred, or the re-
lalions of business, The influence Of all
these is indispensable to keep us IA united
people. 1t is, therefore, an import ant
object to remove the obstacle which er-
pense interposes to their active operation
They form not only the happiest, but the
strongest ties, by which families--socie-
ty-tbe Union ilseIt.--is held and bound
together. Let no man suppose TIM, The
expense forms no barrier to the inter.
change of these friendly offices among
The people Of this country, Rather let
him reflect that IL nOw costs The vaiue oj
Il bushel Of ,cheat for person in Illinois
or Indiana to get letter from friend or
relative in the Eastern or Southern
otdltS , uuu VI NHfut Is ItE
ed among us as the value of a days work
for q man. The consciousness that such
lis the expense cannot fail to deter manv
from writing letters and in that way,
aud from that cause, correspondence
eases acquaintance is dropped and
our people become separated in feeling
But remove the expense, and you rerire
al Al
will bring with it will become more en-
deared by both the distance and time that
has interviewed.
\ Suppose, sir, that the obstacles TO in
Itcrcourse, now iOterposed by distance
aud expense, were both removed that
| by The use Of some such means as are al
| iorded by the magnetic telegraph, every
parent who had child away from the
family could inquire of their welfare, and
receive at once an answer. What moth
er is there who would not send to her
child message at the dawn of every
morning
1 With these facilities, there would con-
s,nn,y circulate current Of affection
through every inhabited portion OF this
extended country, producing such har-
mony as has not been Witnessed by cre-
ated beings since "the morning stars
sang together"
\ BY reducing postage, we approximate
this result could it be fully realized it
can hardly be told how trlllng charge
upon each communica alton would pay the
expense of our present establishme ut.
We are called upon by constant appica-
tions from the people to try TO effect
reduction. Why should We refuse TO
comply ?
We carry printed matter low, and
there has been no complaint-all per-
ceive that in this there is common ben
e6t--but they cannot desire that this shall
injure any other branch of the service,
thus producing equal or greater benefits.
Ii appears to me, that the proper course
is 10 put letter postage at as low or lower
rates as others charge-aDd apply the
/ profits of this branch Of The service to
the payment of the general expenses OF
The Departmental long as there is any
profit, no one will have right TO com
plain, !! that proii, is not quite sufficient
|, TO pay all the loss incurred by disse mi |
! mating intelligence among the whole peo-
pie:
I The immediate question before US then,
involves the inquiry whether it is best TO
make partial or an enectual reduction
at once ! think it must be manifest,
hat TO make only a partial reduction
would only diminish the revenue, because
partial reduction will not command the
business. We are now fast losing the
letter carriage, which alone pays the ex-
pense incurred while an etlectual re-
ductlon will regain the lost business, and
an increase Of that which is profitable
will promise, at least, adequate support.
!f we do aoihins or act ineficieniIy, we
cannot hope for it. The proposition is to
have one rate for all distances. This
system being national in its object-il
/ appears TO me the rate should be uniform
giving in comparison to The old sys-
tenn the greatest stimulus to correspon-
Cence among the most distant 1t also
removes an objection TO the bill as it now
is, which is, that much greater num-
Der can correspond with each other, at
the lew rate, in the densely populated
portions OF the country, than in those mol
so. The single rate places all upon an
equality so that, in reference TO the
benefits II confers, We are one people.
\ The present IS favorable time to
make this alteration. The two political
divisions in the country are each repre-
senled by majority in the two Houses.
II the trial is not successful one, the
responsibility will be divided. Fit shall
succeed, (as have no doubt it will,
and shed It's blessings upon, and give sat
isfactIon to all parts of our country, The
qualification this will afford will be shar-
ed alike by the two parties and ample
will II be for US all.