The Arkansas banner., 1845-04-16
SPEECH OF MIR. YANCEY,
In the House ot Representatives., Fe6r~dr9

ytStoSt..
 MT, 9istRy said had not designed,
 Mr. Chairntn,;tp have addressed the com
 mittee upon this Bili, until its friends had de-
 termined to force t through tins body by
 the mere force of numbers, allowing but two
 hours discussion of it's provisions. Had the
 privilege of dissecting the principles involved
 in the bill, and exposing the evils to result
 from its adoption, been permitted to those
 who oppose 1t, should have been satisfied
 io have given my vote in silence, relying
 with confidence for my support upon the de- bate which would have gone before the conn try. That privilege has been denied; and l rise, therefore, briefly 10 state few reasons why the bill should not become a law.
 In the first place, the change proposed Is too radical and sudden. The rates of pos tage are now 63, 10, 12l, l9f, and D cents
 for various distances. This bill proposes
 that, as soon as 1t receives the signature of
 the President, they shall all be reduced 10
 one uniform rate of J cents for package
 weighing half ounce orless. The change
 Is too sudden, for it gives notme for putting
 the plan into operation throughout the vast
 and intricate machinery of the Post Office Departnent--a machinery winch cannot be
 destroyed aud reconstructed in day. II a
 reform i'll that department Is desirable, (and
 do not gainsay it,) approach so important
 a work as an entire destruction and recon
 struction of one branch of the government
 with caution, and disturb it with care. The
 abolition of the the various rates of postage now exacied, the very smallest of which is larger by 20 per cent than the rate to which 1t is proposed all shall be reduced, is too se- rious an undertaking to be accomplished without hazard by sweeping dash of the pen!
 Again, sir, while this bill thus reduces the
 postage rates sixty-six and two-thrd cents below the average of the present rates, 1t increases three or six fold (aecordng to the quality of paper used) the rights of those
 who use the mail. By the law, as 1t now stands, certain rate IS charged upon each sheet sent in the mal. By the bill il is pro- posed that a uniform rae of ] cents shall be charged on single letters for any distance; but aiiy package weighing half ounce or less, shall be deemed single letter. Now, sir, tvee saeh sheets of letter paper as 1 hold in my hand--paper of the usual American manuiacture-can be sent in package weigh- ing a fraction less than half an ounce-or, sir sheets of French letter paper can be sent in a package of like weight The operation of the bill is doubIy in favor of those who use the mal-not only reducing all former rates for any distance to twenty per cent be- low the lowest charge now known to the law, which charge, too, allows but of the carrying of a letter thirty miles,) but ncreas- Ing the quantity of matter which cores pendent can send by mail from three to six fold. This will necessarily weigh down your mails 10 an enormous extent-reiard to a certain degree their progress, at least over stage and horse routos-and render their transportation more expensive.
 Another objection to the bill is the power conferred upon the Postmaster General. By Its provisions, if the compensation of the postmaster does not reach a certain amount annually, the head of the department can in crease that compensation to an amount equal to fifty per cent upon the amount of letter postage received al his office. presume that, in the frontier and thiAly settled sec tions ot the Union, there are thousands of postmascrs who may thus be made depend- ants upon the will of the Postmaster Gener- al. Now, sir, l would not object to some fixed mode of giving reasonable salary to such postmasters but do object to the giv- ing to any one individual such uncontrolled power to give or not to give away the pub he money to individuals scattered over so broad an extent of country, It is dangerous it IS tempting--it is corrupdug.
 Another serious objection to the bill is, that It destroys the present system, by which travelling accommodation Is afforded by mail !. contracts to the commnnity-by which com mercHh prosperity is increased, and social intercourse promoted. The bill proposes to let out mail contracts without reference to the mode or manner of mail conveymce.- Thus, upon the great mail route between Madison, Georgia, and Chehaw. Alabama or that between Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus. Mississippi, the contractor under thls bill may carry il in mud cart, upon horseback, or by balloon, if possible The immense and valuable lines of eommuuiea- ton which interseet our whole country, and by which is citizens are enabled to travel with rapidity and cheapness, will thus be crushed in moment, as 1t were, working inconvenience to the people in their business and social relations.
 But the great and leading objection 1 have to the passing this measure into law is, that 1t will throw the Post Office Department up- on the treasuryof the United States for sup port. It's friends here deny this, and say that such Is not their intention; and that they agree to the proposition which we advance, that tue department should pay it's own way should be curtalled CT extended Us it's reve- nue demand. Yet the bill, upon it's very lace, denies their ssertions-coniesses 10 '' the soil impeachment n-and appropriates absolutely screen hasdred and ffig thouSaad dollars to deiray any deficiency in its reye- nues which may be created by the bill, and allows four aud q half millions to be drawn out of the contingent fund by the Postmas- ter General if reqnisitel Is 1t necessary for me, sir, 10 show the enormity-l had almost said the lniquity-of such provision: Is It necessary to demonstrate that those onlv who use the post office should be taxed to pay its expenses As these positions have not been and will not be controverted, will not consume the time of the committee bv dwelling upon them. Their simple staie- ment enlorces conviction.
 These are some of the leading objections which entertain against the passage of this