The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-24

TO know if the amount was not as large as that.
Mr.. HOPKINS said he thought II would not ex-
coed $500 900.
Mr.. HAMLIN (resuming) estimated the amount
OF mailabe matter sent under congressional
franks at another half million; so that in fact OF
this 81 600 called for, only $500 900 was fairly
to be reekoned as deficit Of the department. And
this, he argued, was comparatively small for the
hrst year. and furnished no just cause of complaint,
when they recolected that for fifty or sixty years. the
Postage-Paying community had paid for the free
letters Of the government, amounting to millions and
| millions Of dollars.
He apprehended, also, that the gentleman from
Alabama might be in error, and suppose the ap.
preparations called for from the treasury larger than
they actually were, inasmueh as in order 10 applv
the revenues of the department themselves, il was
necessary that they should be Appropriated ae-
cording TO law; and hence the greater part of the
appropriations for the department were not burden
upon the treasury, but were of money actually
taken in by the department itself
But none Of the advocates of low postage sup
posed that the reduced rates would furnish revenue
enough to meet the expenses Of the department for
the first year The penny system In England fol
the first year did not meet the expenditure, while
| at the end Of three years the revenue was more
than double. And there was nothing in the habits
and circumstances of our people to prevent like
increase of revenue. With these considerations he
had been, and still continued, in favor of the re.
uuCeu OF POSTAGE anu ne snOulu vote win
eheenulBess for this bill.
Mr.. PAYNE briefly rejoined. The gentleman
from Maine (he said) had attempted to place him
Mr.. P.) in bad dilemma as the gentleman from
Pennsylvania was found in Now he had submit
ted TO the gentleman two questions. Mr. p. repeat
ed the questions, Gas above gven) and he contend
ed that the extent Of correspondence on the part Of
the business community, under decreased rates OF
postage, would not be increased beyond their busi-
wants, (the extent which il would attain under
the old system) while the rlAlng increase Of other
correspondence that might take place would 20 but
very little towards making up the deficiency occa-
stoned by the reduction.
With regard to the Justice Of the old system in It's
operation upon the North and the South he replied
that very large proportion of the mail taxes receiv-
ed at Baltimore Philadel phia, New York, &c, were
paid by people throughout the whole Union, who
customers of the merchants in these cities and
TO whom the postage on their business letters was
regularly charged on their accounts. But granting
that the South had received little more under the
operation Of the Post Office Department than the
North compared with their respective taxes there
for, this was comparatively trihng sum when Ia
ken in connexion with the comparative inequalities
and oppression they had suffered under the taxation
Of system Of duties on imports and under the
mparatlyey small and unjust amount OF disburse-
ments which they had received from the general
government.
Mr.. HOPKINS did not rise TO make speech
on the general subject, for he was very anxious to
bring the matter toa decision He regretted that the
gentleman from Alabama and the gentleman from
Missouri had seen fit to go into the general CUES.
ton of the rates Of postage in this bill. IL was I'M
doubtedly connected with II IN some manner but a
bill directly connected with the subject would soon
be reported, and would afford more appropriate
opportunity for the dlscusslon and this bill was for
an independent appropriation, and would be neces-
sary whatever might be the action of Congress on
the question OF the rates OF postage.
He believed the almost unanimous sentiment OF
this House was in favor Of these foreign mail serv-
ces-services rendered necessary by the constant in
crease Of commercial intercourse between this coun-
try and Europe, and the large emigration from Eu-
rope to the United States, many Of which emgrants,
under the existing post Office regulations, were cut
off from all intercourse with their former homes
and their friends. The subject had been carefully
examined on the part Of the department and Of the
committee of the House, who had reported unani.
mousiy IN favor Of this appropriation.
The amount was a small one. And he did not
understand the objections be against the services
SO much as against some circumstances connected
with IL Those of the gentleman from Georgia
Mr.. KMol were not the most formidable; vet he
was not opposed to service but thought the steam
ers would not be servceable as might be built
Mr. II. dared say the gentleman would prefer to see
vessels Of different character; but he submitted to
the gentleman whether he would be likely to be sus
ter take what they could get than enter into an abor-
tive effort to get what they could not reach. He
should not enter into the general argument in sup
port Of this bill. He believed a large majority Of
this House were ready at least to make this expert
ment-an experiment which he thought offered
strong national inducements for its adoption, and
which was justified he thought as well on the score
of economy as of public necessity. 1t was, as he
had sad but an experiment.; for under the contract
the Postmaster General had the power to discon-
tnue the service at his discretion. And if he did
not, and Congress was disposed to, under the very
law which authorized him to make the contract,
they were authorized to supersede il at pleasure
He alluded to Mr.. THURMAN's amendment. sta
ting his approval of Its general object but suggest
ing objections 10 1t under the circumsta noes mas
much as some of the vessels were already under
construction, and what would be its effect upon
them he could not tell The contract was already
made under act Of Congress of Sd March, ls45 and
no such stipulation was found in it; its terms had
been agreed on by the Postmaster General and the
contractors, and he should now regret the appro-
pration for the fufment of this contract, to see an
amendment adopted without he could be assured of
its effect upon those already made.
One remark only in reply to Mr.. HAMLIN, and
he trusted that any further discussion on the gene.
raj subject of postage would be postponed until the
appropriation bill came up. In reference to the
statement of Mr.. HAMLIN, that the revenues of the
department under the first years reduction of post.
age were equal to the amount antIcip ated by it's adj
vocates, Mr.. H. read from the report Of the mi
nority of the Post Office Committee (whose PROPOSE
ton, he said was substantially adopted and passed
into law estimating the probable amount of post
age under that plan al "a, 92S, 547
Mr.. GRlNNELL "a member Of that commtee)
explained that that was estimate on the bill Of
the minority, which differed from that which be-
came law. That bill proposed that postage should
be prepaid, and varied in other particulars
Mr.. HOPKINS (resuming) granted that the rates
adopted by the bill that finally passed were still lower
than than those recommended by the minority of the
committee but still he was not mistaken it the gene
raj statement He did not think that any gentle
man who advocated the reduction of the rates Of
postage anticipated that the falling off Of the rev.
enue would be 40 as per cent? that was the
reduction that had been realized
But Mr.. Fl. would not enter into the discussion
at present. and he appealed to gentlemen friendly
the BILL and to all, to allow the question now to be
taken, without further discussion.
Without further proceedings, the committee rose
and reported.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid hefore the Houae tho fol