The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-22

The following article from the Liverpool Mercury.
contains fair, LIBERAL and impartial view Of the unfor
tunate course pursued by Great Britain the postage
war - .t M I s..,. n, rs, ,e
we understand that are on the eve of postage
war with the United States, the negotiation for
engagements Is al an endat least Tor the present That
the public may understand the whole bearings OF the case
we will mere explain them they stand thus: Letters
sent from any part OF the United States to seaport. 10
DC thence despatched to this country either by British
American packets pay per half ounce five cents two
pence hapenny. if the distance be under miles, and
len cents or fvepence if over that distance even fit
extend to one, two or three thousand miles ii letter
be lodged at in the post office at the port from which
the vessel sails, cent only Ia haltpenny) paid
the postmaster mot the governmen) for making up the
letters parcels there further charges on such
letters in the United States, and they all paid. On
their delivery here. when they come by British packets.
bringing letters here in addition to the American in
land postage already described, shilling each 10
paid 10 tho United States governments and another sh
American packet letters to cost double the amount Of
those coming by British packets. The American gov
eminent feel this grievance and an injustice towards
them and they very naturally insist fair reciprocity
They treat British packets letters arriving in the United
States precisely on the same footing as If posted BY
American citizens; and, in return. they claim that their
letters by their packets coming here, should be placed on
the same footing as those posted by British subjects
Our government it appears, propose to increase our
government to lower theirs to Id, each charging
tenpence for the sea, postage, so that the matter
would stand thus In England 3D.. on the
l0d, in the United States 2d-ls I'd in all for every
letter of half ounce, in out The American gov
eminent say that, inasmuch make large revenue
out OF our postal arrangements, while they sustain q
heavy loss by theirs, the two countries are differently
situated; and therefore, that, respects them. this is
not equitable They admit that the expense OF carrying
letter. whether it is carried mile or thousand, IT
the weight only is considered is mere traction; but,
from the immense distances they have to carry letters.
over miserably bad roads, they cannot possibly carry
them on the terms that we do There is certainly
;uotirn in IN md
offer is not fair reciprocity The American letters
lately received go state that they have right to
Interfere in any shape with the internal arrangements OF
any country nor mas any country ngnta 70 mere
think their case, for the interest OF their own
subjects, and claim the for their citizens. All they
look to is, that the British packets and the American
packets should each carry letters at the same rates
for sea postage; and that their vessels coming here
should not be obliged to pay our government for
a. service which their government has performed
This is certainly common justice, and our govern
ment should not hesitate moment to meet their views
1t further appears that the Postmaster General OF the
United States has asked Tor powers rem ny govern
etaate for this double charge on the letters by
their packets This is creating the worst feeling, and Is
furnishing the manufacturers OF the eastern States with
arguments to get increased protective duties, as we are
clearly wrong. Will the great commercial and manuiac-
turing interests of this country submit to have their best
customers provoked to measures OF retaliation IN the
face of that commercial freedom and fair reciprocity Tor
which they have been contending, we hope not we
forget that little bring on big Ones 10
have justice done to ourselves we must DO JUSTICE to
others The public may depend the correctness OF our
nfolmation and. therefore, now is the time to Tcmon;
strae with our government that our amicab!e and
friendly relations with the United States may not be dis
turbed. " y Z"
1t is pretty clear, from the position in which the affair
now stands that Chancenor of the Exchequer is no
friend Of free trade and real reciprocity and that poba
this matter Ii he enteains any such crotchet ne will
assuredly find himself egregiously mistaken.