The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-01
EDITORS coRREsPoNDENcE


lfrom our regular corfespondcntI
PmLADELPHiA, june 30, ls45.
perceive that our booksellers are offering for
sale the History of the Oregon Territory and
British North American Fur Trade" by John
Dunn, of the Hudson Bay Company, who resided
In the country eight years. The work is now for
the FIRST time republished in this country. This is
the same book Of which the London Spectator said,
about this time last year, that II was "wrtlen with
the unsurpassed prejudices Of an employee of the
Hudson Bay Company, and with no small share
of the affectation Of rough swagger which charac-
terizes these gentlemen. Of the extensive erudi-
ton displayed by Mr. Greenhow, there is quite as
little in Mr.. Dunn's work Of his diplomatic suav-
ity" "Bu" continues the Spectator, sit has all the
freshness and fullness Of description by an eye
witness-by one who has resided for some time
among the scenes and persons described" The
Spectator will find that its sneer at the Americans,
last June, cannot be used against them now. 1t
then said:
"since the publication of Washington Irvng's Astoria
American p96iciss have been necessarily putting forth
produce impression that the United have the best
claim to the whole Oregon efrtory while the British
eminent has utterly neglected the controversy British
subjects the agents British chartered company have
been settling the Oregon territory, while the Americans
have been talking of settling It."
If the Spectator will turn It's eyes westward, it
may see that its sneer cannot operate now. Hun
dreds OF hardy settlers are pushing their Sfortnes
into the territory of orgon-hundreds of those
who are used to the perils of new colony; who,
having shared in the dangers Of western pioneers,
now that the wave of civilization is rolling on over
the homes they first TO settle, eager to pro-
coed su further onward in the region of the setting
sun. They will not be overcome by the accident
the worse than accident--that befell Astoria, for
they prepared to defend themselves and their
country's rights against all aggression. They carry
with them the unerring western rifles, the sturdy
frames Of western pioneers, the warm hearts Of
Americans, who "know their rights, and, knowing,
dare maintain them"
This is the last day Of the old postage law. To-
morrow, the operation of the new law begins, and
much speculation is INDUCED with regard to IL. Our
postmaster, DIR. Lehman, has mnde all the necessary
IN anticipation of the radical change
which it will effect There is no doubt, in my mind,
that the new law will succeed; but it will be
FOR the next Congress, which the LIST Of De-
cember, to make such alterations the experience
of the period between now and then may suggest.
One of these alterations will be to abolish the prin.
ciple Of weight. Under the new law, five cents is
all that is charged for letter Tor letters in pack
age) weighing half an ounce; ard has been ascer-
tanned that four or five letters written thin French
etterpaper, such as is now prepared and ready for
sale in our bookstores, will not weigh more than
half an ounce. This then, instead of being change
from twelve and half to five cents, is in reality a
change from sixty-two and a half 10 Ave cents--a-
New York and Philadelphia an estimate! This,
you will admit, is too radical change; but was
assured, day or two ago, by very respectable
gentleman who seemed to know the fact, that pro-
ect is on foot in this city, originated by some
of the agents of private expresses, by which still
more unfortunate result will be effected. Under the
new law, letter packages, chargeable by weight can
be carried as heavy three pounds. 1t is pro-
posed then, by these private expresses TO carry let
ters between New York and Philadelphia (Which,
under the new law, would singy amount to five
cents each) for four, three cents-a sufficient
number (the announcement being, that all so sent
are TO be written on thin light paper) gathered
to make the required bulk OF three pounds, for
which government would receive less than one cent
letter; the balance (say two cents) TO go to the
spectators, who amass these immense profits al
most for nothing, the only expense being the deIiy.
government act the carrier for trlile when
paid by weight-and weight, in all such cases, will
be resorted to, Of course. The distance between
Boston and Philadelphia is ascertained to be exactly
three hundred and three miles, three miles
than the FIVE cent distance. The same scheme will
be resoried to between Boston aud this city, with
this difference: Letters for Boston will be consigned
TO post office three four miles from that city. mr.
mailed from post Office three or four miles east oil
tfIis city, and the result Will be, that while govern
ment will receive but fraction FOR carrying the let
tiers in question, in the case of New York, i'm
mense profits will be made by the spectators. IT,
indeed, packages of letters should be forwarded di-
rect from here to Boston, these shrewd managers
could carry single letters for six cents cn cents be-
ing the charge under the new law for all distances
three hundred miles) by the process above de-
scribed, and reap the same enormous per centage
Each package will doubt be directed TO of the
firm in the city TO which it is sent-for they will
have if they have not already, branches in all the
large towns--who will open it, and distribute the let
tiers. The profits will be SO large, that these ex.
penses can easily be borne, and the business be
made quite profitable one The facilities for this
sort of business under the new law are immense
Advertisements, proposing to carry single let
tiers between New York and Philadelphia for
three, or even two cents, instead of five; and
between Boston and Philadelphia for six, or even
FIVE cents instead of ten--would soon appear in the
newspapers, and would attract, of course, hosts OF
customers-with the results have described Let
any one of your readers who desires, convince
himself by. simple calculation, and the notion
here conveyed in the rough, would be found to
be automatically correct. Great fortunes will
thus be made on the new postage law, and the
government will be actually defrauded out OF
hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue
believe that the arrangements for carrying Out
this plan are already completed, and ] conceive
it to be my duty to call the attention of the prop
err authorities TO it, SO that if no immediate steps
can be taken to arrest it, means may be adopted fol
having it recti6ed by Congress soon it assem-.
bes 1t is plain that the principle under which this
dangerous practice be carried on, is not sound
principle, and deserves to be reformed altogether
There are, however, other provisions in the law
which wholesome and salutary; and If five cents
for all single letters for all distances within three
hundred miles, and ten cents for all single letters
over that distance, with reasonable advance fol
double or treble letters be inserted in place of the
provision by which the principle Of weight is recog.
nsed-with such other amendments as experience
may ustify-the law will be as nearly perfect as il
is possible to be. The great reforms of carrying
papers thirty miles from the places where they are
published, free of postage, and of recognising ou
dimes and hafdme in therates will be found tc
be productive of the happiest results. The dissem.
nation Of intelligence among the people will there
by be greatly promoted, and the present Spanish
coin, which actually prevents the circulation o.
American coin, will be banished gradually, because
il will be taken only for what it is actually worth
It is not, however, to be expected that reform sc
great that of reducing postages will be immediate
ly successful. Government must expect to be the
loser heavily in the first year or two but the bril-
liant success of the penny hostages IN Great Brit
ain, is proof that the system now about TO start II