Democratic banner., 1847-12-27

quired Tor that purpose. lhe hrst oil Tie
American steamers, authorized by the aei
of the 81 of March, 1915, was completed
and entered upon the LIST ofJuHe-last, and
is now on her third voyage to Bremen and
other i tt-rmediate ports. The other ves-
sells, authorized under the provisions OF
that act, are in course of construction, and
viii be put upon the line as soon as COM
pletcd. Contracts have been made for the
transportation Of the mail, in steamers, from
Charleston to Havana. a reciprocal and
satisfactory postal arrangement has been
made by the Post Master General with tL,e
authorities of Bremen, and no difficulty is
apprei. ended i'll making similar arrange
rnents with other powers with which We
have communication BY mail steamers,
except Great Britain.
On the arrival of the American steam
eis, bound to Bremen, at Sou4hamPion, in
the month of June last, the British post Of
fee directed the collector Of discriminating
hostages on all letters and other maiiahlt
matter 10 Great Britain, or which went in
to the British post Office on their way 20
France or other parts of Europe. TIE a.
feet Of the order of the British post office
is to subject all letters and otler mailaLI'
matter TO double postage, one postage EaT-
ing been previously paid on them in the t..
States. while letters transported on British
are subject to pay but a single.
postage. This measure was adopted f"i
the svowed object Of protecting the British
line of mail steamers, now running between
Boston and Liverpool, and, if continued,
must speedily put an end to tie Transports
ton Of all Iettt rs and other matter Ivy A.
~me,ican steamers, and give the British
a monopoly Of the business. A
Just and fair reciprocity is al that we de-
sire, and on this We must insist. by our
law, no such DETERMINATIONS is made against
British steamers bringing letters INFO our
ports, but oil letters arri,ing in the United
States ,re subjected to, the Same rates Of
p".,ac-, whether brought in British or a
rnrricsn vessels. refer you to the report
nf tie Post Master General for a full state
mt ut of the facts in tie case, and of tto'
STEPS taken BY lin to correct this inequaii-
ty. lie has rx.Itrd all the powers confer
red u,-on him b, the existing laws.
The Minister Of the United States ii.
Loaton las brought tie sui j,ct To the at
ten:iou Of the British Government, and is
now engaged in . negotiation for the pur-
pose Of adjusting reciprocal postsge az
rargements, which shall be equally jus, /"
both countries. Should he fail in %conclu-
ding such arrangement, and should Great
Britain insist OIL forcing the unjust mess
'ure she had adopted, it may become neecS-
'ssry @.equf;;r m order to enable him to NEE,
the emergency, and to put our steamers on
an equal footing with British steamers en-
gagged in transporting TIE mail between tl..
two countries. l recommend that such
powers be conferred.
In view Of the existing state Of our coun.
try, 'IGst ii may not be inappropriate TO
'all tn mind the words of wisdam ard adj
nonition Of tli. first and most illustrious Of
ny predecessors in his farewell address to
MS c"nntrymcn. That greatest and bcs, Of.
ncn, WHO served Ims country so long, and
owed it so much, fnreSaw with serious con-.
'ern the danger TO our Union in character,
z'ng parties by geographical distinctions,
Northern, Southern, Atlantic and Western.
designing men may cnGeavor 10 ext
lite a belief that there is Il real difference
Il local interests and views-warned LiSj
'o"fiirymtn against it. So deep end SOL
mn was his con, lotion of the i'm, ~ortaucr
tie Union, and If preserving harmony
its different paris that he declsrcd
his conntrymen, in that address, it is Of
finite moment that you should %proLrrlyi
the immense value of YOUR Ma.
Union 10 your collective aud iudi, id
al happiness; that You should cherish :,
lIAbituAl and imuorablc attach
'ent TO 1t, acCnstomiI'g yourselves 10 tLirk