The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-12-17
WHOLE NO. 1850.

- .lllllnlIlllglzrm
British post.ofhce directed the collection
Ofdiscriminating pestuges on oil letters
and other mailable matter, which she took
out to Great Britain, or which went into
the British Post office on their way TO
France and other parts Of Europe. The
effect of the order ofihe British post of.
hce IS 10 subject all letters and other mat
ter transported by American steamers to
double postage, one postage having been
previously paid on them TO the United
States, while letters transported in Brit
sh steamers are subject 10 pay bat SIM
gle postage. This measure was adopted
with the avowed object of protecting the
British line of mail steamers now running
between Boston and Liverpool, and, If
permitted to continue, must speedily put
an end to the transportation Of all letters
and other matter by American steamers,
and give 10 British steamers the monopo-
ly of the business. A just and fair reci-
prOcity is all that we desire, and on this
we must insist. BY our laws, no such
discrimination is made against British
steamers bringing letters into our ports.
but all letters arriving in the United
States are subject TO tho same rate pos
tage whether brought in British orAmeri-
can vessels. | refer you 10 the report of
the Postmaster General for full state
ment ofthe facts of the case, and of the
steps taken by him TO correct this ine-
quality. He has exeried all the power
conferred npon him by the existing laws.
The Minister of the United States at
London has brought the snbject to the
attention of the British Government, and
is now engaged in negotiations for the
purpose Of adjusting reciprocal postal ar
rangements, which shall be equally Just
10 both countries. Should he fail in con-
Guiding such arrangements, and should
Great Britain insist on enforcing the un-
equal and unjust measure she has adop-
ted. 1t will become necessary to confer
additional powers in the Postmaster GEN
eral, in order to enable him to meet the
emergency. and to put our own.steamers
on an equal footing with British steamers
engaged in transporting the mail between
the two countries; and | recommend that
such powers be conferred.
LII view of;he existing state of our
country, trust it may not be insppro-
pirate, in closing this communication. to
call to mind the words Of wisdom aud ad-
monitlon Of the first and most illustrious
of my predecessors, in bis farewell ad-
dress to his countrymen.
That greatest and best of men, who
served his country so long. and loved it SO
much, foresaw, with"serious concern" the
danger to our Union "of characterizing
parties by geographical determinations
l-N0rthern and Southern, Atlantic and
WeStern--wheLce designing men may en-
deavor to excite belief that there is
real difference of local interests and
views" and warned bis country against it.
So deep and solemn was his conviction
of the importance of the Union and of
preserving harmony between its different
parts, that he declared to his countrymen
lin that address, sit is Of infinite moment
that yon should properly estimate the i'm
mense value of your national Union TO
your collective and individual happiness;
that you should cherish cordial, habitu-
al and immovable attachment to it; accus-
toming yourselves to think and to speak
of it as palladium ofyour political safe
ty and prosperity; watching for its preser-
vation with jealous anxiety; discounten-
ancing whatever may suggest even sus-
| bat in IN he oh
doned; and indignantly frowning upon
the frs, dawning of every attempt to al
ienate any portion of country from the
rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which
now link together the various parts"
After the lapse Of half century, these
admonitions of Washington fall upon US
with all the force oftruih. 1t is difficult
to estimate the immense value" of our
glorious Union of confederaled States, to
which we are so much indebted for our
growth in population and wealth, and for
all that constitutes us great and happy
nation. How unimportant are all our
differences of opinion upon miner ques-
tions of public policy, compared with its
preservation; and how scrupulously
should we avoid all agitating topics which
may tend to distract and divide us into
contending parties, separated by geo.
; graphical lines, whereby it may be weak
ened OF endangered.
Invoking the blessings of the Almigh-
ty Ruer..of the Universe upon your de-
liberatiens, it viii be my highest duty, no
less than my sincere pleasure, to co-ops.
rate with you in all measures which may
tend to promote the honor and enduring
welfare Of our common country
JAMES X. POLK.
WAsHINGToN, December, 1847.
DEATHS IN THE HosPITAL AT PERoTE.