The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-10-09


the interest Of such papers as the Saturday Courier
at the expense Of country papers that need all th'
aid and assistance that can be brought to bear'-
We say at the expense Of the country papers, be
cause every thing tending to extend the circula
ton of city Journals. is at the expense of country
papers, for the reason that very manyPersons viii
, subscribe for a city paper in preference to their
own county paper, because the postage on each is
nearly the same. and the city paper is larger and
probably less per annum. What justice is there
in charging fiity.two cents postage on our papers
sent to Malaga, Ia distance of mies,) and but
seventy.sy cents TO the same place on the Satur-
day Courier, paper of nearly double as much
weight, and carried some 400 miles. II there i,
any justice in il we confess we cannot see it.
Who needs the fostering care OF Government
the Saturday Courier, which yields TO its publish
ers profit Of tcenty thousand dollars per annun,,
(Which is said to be the profits of that paper, as
ceriained in a recent la w-suit between the widow
OF deceased partner and present proprietor or
the publisher of a country paper, the profits Of
which will hardly keep together the bodies and
souls of these concerned in it' Who should have
the protection of Government-the two hundred
profitable city papers, or the thousand country
journals whose Iublishers are barely able to make
respectable living; and any one Of whom could
make as good a paper as the Saturday Courier.
with the same capital!
The Courier editor says, that for some time he
- of tho
ment, but that now he has the qualification to "per-
ceve that several of his contemporaries have been
awakened to the importance of the subject" 1t
would be strange, indeed, if his city "contempora-
ries" did not "awaken to the importance of the
subject" to Themselves; but we opine that il will
be long time before country publishers will "a.
waken to its importance" unless it is such as are
disposed to find fault with the Departme nj without
reason.
The editor ofthe Courier further says the rescind-
ing Of the rule will "retard the spread of mteii-
gence among the great body of the people" Not
bit oft, sir. So far from retarding the spread
of intelligence, will increase it by increasing the
circulation of country papers. One thing, how
ever it will retard, and that is the spread Of the
great mass of trashy literature which emanates
from the eastern cities.
The Courier intmates that its course has COM
PEELED the Post Master General to offer an excuse
or apology for resembling this rule; and then al
tempts to ridicule him for so doing. tits true the
Post Master General has instructed Maj. Hobbie,
who is now in Europe on other important busi-
ness of the Department, to 'examine carefully"
the money Order system, as he terms it, which is
IDENTICAL with the ''rescinded iue," if we properly
it; and says sit will afford him great
pleasure to adopt that or any other system which
will tend to the dissemination of intelligence a.
ays it is humiliating for an American Post Mas
General to send to Europe to ascertain the prac
cal working Of the system. Now lei us ask which il
the more humiliating, to ask for the establish
,ent of the English rule without examining it, as {
oes the Courier; or to "carefuHy examine" it, as [
oes the Post Master General, before adopting it,
tut such is the course of the Courier, and we trust
ur readers will see at glance the demagogueisnl,
use no harsher term, of its editor. 1t displays -,
is depth of intellect, and what kind of "nte- b
ence" he would "spread among the great body of q
ne people" The Courier could, before the re-
uctipn of letter postage, with great flourish of :,
.umpets, cite the Department to the practical op-
ratien Of the "penny postage system" of England, h
ost Master General to "carefuy examine" the
peration OF the "money order system" of the same
ountry, "wih view to its introduction in the ,
United Sates"-when al the same time, the Cou-
er is willing for the Post Master General to adopt
without any examination. What consistency! u
There is already in operation regulation suffi- '
enty advantageous TO Eastern publishers, and Il
nat is the privilege that all Poslmasers, whose a
er centage does not exceed two hundred dollars,
ave ofsending letters free of postage and there are
nough of such throughout the country in all d
,ience; which, with the Courier's twenty thou q
md dollars profits, should satisfy its avaricious-
PISS, and content it to pay its own postage on re- II
ittances from the other post offices.
There was Post Office law repealed by the last
ongress, which operated eneficiay, and which W,
orld be restored. We have reference to the law y
lowing newspapers 10 be sent by mail 80 miles u
ee OF postage. This law operated alike beheti- "'
ally to all, both publishers and subscribers. We u
ould, however, had we voice in The matter,
ggest that papers should be sent free Of postage o
the county where printed, instead of 80 miles. III
ie Post Master Generals sire to adopt system nj
lich would "tend to the dissemination uf intel. hl
ence amnng the people," woul1 then be accom- ar
shed. The passage Of such a law is demanded CT
the people. And we call upon the papers of as
, West, generally to speak out upon the subject. ca
We have not made these remarks, hastily thrown m
,ether without revision, with the expectation -
It they will be noticed by the Courier; but far
reasdn that the Courier has some circulation -,
this county, and we desire that the people may
receive an erroneous impression on the sub. ~
referred to-. We would also refer our read v"
r II 4 =.