Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-20
From the Augusta, Me. Farmerl
Cheap Postage.
MARiNUs.


Our friend OF the Journal thinks that the frank
ing privilege. now granted to Congressman, is right
and Just, inasmuch as II is an indirect compensa-
ton for attending TO the many letters they are con-
slanly receiving, full Of all manner Of requests
&c. Moreover, il is a source Of great information
10 the people, inasmuch as they receive Congress
sional documents free. Admit all that, does fol-
low that the people must be inordinaiely taxed on
other matters to make up the deficiency Of revenue
from the mailsi II it does, where is the great adj
vantage 10 any but those who have the ranking
privileged This piling up the rates Of postage OH
letters and newspapers, and then sending folks
few dry documents and stupid speeches free" is
very much like taking a mans overcoat aud giving
him old ragged roundabout.
There seems to be singular error Of opinion
in regard to Post Office matters, and that is this,
viz That the Post Office Department ought not
only 10 pay lis expenses, but yield little
besides. Or, in other words, the people were made
for the Post Office and not the Post Office for the
people. We look upon the Post Office Department
and the system of transmitting intelligence by
mail, as one OF the great avenues OF knowledge,
and thereby OF the best safeguards Of rights
and liberties Instead therefore, Of putting on high
postage 10 render il a money-making concern, the
reverse should be done, and the deficiency made up
from the real fiscal sources Of the country, such
the customs and sales Of public lands.
Why not require our army, which is got up for
national defence, TO support ilselff Why not re-
quire our navy 10 defray its own COST Oh. they
are servants to protect US, and Of course must be
bills oil expense Indeed Shut up the Post Off
ces and merge the people in Ignorance, and you
destroy the strongest bulwark OF your freedom and
security. Why do not our Executive and Judi
ciary Departments pay their own wayi Oh, they
are servants to that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted, and Of course must be maintained. Very
well Shut up the Post Offices and merge the peo-
pie 10 ignorance, and you would need no other Ex-
ecntive or judiciary than some despot and standing
army Your best guaranty for the national defence
and the faithful execution Of the laws, viz; know-
edge among the people. would be destroyed And
yet one Of the main elements Of this guaranty, the
Post Office. must, forsooih, pay its own expenses
and little besides No. Reduce your hostages,
throw open the gates Of knowledge and let other
resources supply any lack in revenue. Dispense
with one or two big ships Of war, and apply the
vast sums lavished on Internationally and useless
ly wasted, rather-to the payment of Post Office
expenses. Slice down the fat wages Of Con-
gressmen, give them fire good dollars per day in.
stead of eistt-and apply the money saved to the
payment of Post Office expenses Dock the exor-
biian salaries OF those drones in the political hive.
the federal ofice-holders, who do little work yet
receive the finest OF the honcy--and apply the saw
ing TO the payment Of Post Office expenses Give
knowledge TO the people, and you have fortress
and an impregnable wall, cheerful, intelligent de-
fender Of the government IN every individual. Take
knowledge from them, and you must build fortress
es and walls Of granite, and keep hordes OF MERGE
naries to enforce government with ball and steel.
There is another evil in our Post Office system
which ought to be remedied; and that is, allowing
the Postmaster General TO be sole Judge and execu-
toner Of the Post Office laws. Whatever eonstruc-
ton he puts upon these laws is carried out, "hi OF
miss" Now who made him Judge in the land
We support wise aud able Judiciary, the Su-
preme Court Of the United States, TO expound the
laws What is the use Of such functonaries, u
those appointed TO act in accordance with the law
are 10 be the Judgesl A county sheriff might
with the same propriety seat himself on county
court bench or swine-driver set up for an oracle
in the price and quality Of pork, as for the Post
master General to dictate in matters OF Post Once
law. But every month or two, we have some con-
seauential "order''--so pontihcal bull rom his
High Mightiness; and all the little deputies and
superaumeraries shout "amen," and carry II into
effect. We don't believe in any such way OF doing
business. II is decidedly a wrong end-hfSt princl
pie. If there is doubt or ambiguity ia the Post or
fee law, the Supreme Court alone can construe =.
and the decisions Of that tribunal alone have thu
Postmaster General and his deputies any right Il
enforce. Let them look TO. their ways
We 90 for cheap postage on letters and news
papers, and for the Supreme Court to DO Judges
The law.