The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-08

NNssu.
We shall take early opportunity OF presenting Ia A
public the correspondence between our minister al In
don and the British government in relation TO the pos,
charged upon the correspondence between the two co
tries, recently transmitted by the President of the M
States to the Senate, The energy and ability exbbTy
by Mr. Bancroft, his directness fankness and ber,
cannot fail TO commend his conduct most sronyly
every American citizen Although Unsuccessful in !
negotiation, the correspondence will not fail to conv
every that he kept our country right upon ey.
proposition, and exhibited throughout the deemin,, b
to have justice and equality for citizens, or nob
In taking hasiy view OF the correspondence we ca,
| not but be struck with the want OF courtesy and n
sordid spirit, and the petty jealousy exhibited BY
British post Office toward the United States and }
American line of ocean steamers, and which we c, b
not doubt will be met in proper manner when the ana
| ton is taken up in Congress.
| 1t appears that the British government charges
shilling equal TO about "a cents) each letter weigh
less than half an ounce taken or from England BIZ
steamers OF the United Subsequently, the same thai
changed on letters transported in her own stean.,
80 that letter going to returning from England b.
United States line of steamers pays the United State.
cents, and pays the British post office "a cents but
taken in British steamer, the charge only the shl
whilst the United States charges on each letter brou
by British steamer only cents if not sent in the u
ted States mails and if sent in the mails, only cents
addition to the regular inland postage; and on each len
sent out, only cent which is given to the postmas
sending it. In addition to this, Great Britain charges
cents transit postage on each American letter pass
through that kingdom to the continent. and l6 cents
each sent to and returned by private vessel viii
the United States charges above stated upon all "a
respondence brought into the United States by other va
sells than her mail steamers
Ii this state OF things is permitted TO exist, il mus
apparent to every that the mail line of the UnJ
States do business between this country and On
Britain, with any other country whose corresponds
would touch the British shores; and il would be !
well for the United States to withdraw her steamers
once and leave the monopoly in the hands Of CT,
| Britain
| 1t will be seen that every effort has been made
Mr. Bancroft to induce that government 10 come to sod
equitable and just arrangement He desired reductd !
Of the present rates Of postage, which too high
the service rendered. He proposed TO reduce the nn
fifteen sixteen cents for transportation across the
to be paid the vessel performing the service whet
British or American and that letters delivered into [
offices of either country by the vessels or people Of N
other were to be received and treated in all respects
the Offices of the latter letters Of their peop
letter from the United States, delivered into the vol
Office at Liverpool without expense to the Bnh}
post office, would cost more, and should
charged no more for transmission in the British mad
ject and so letter from England deposited in the
office at New York. without expense to the United Stas
should be charged no for transmission in the Un
States mails, than the letter of of own citizens
These liberal propositions have been rejected by
British government and the charge OF shilling on u
tiers received sent by steamers, and l6 cents
letters sent or received in private vessels and l6 cea
transit on all correspondence from the United States
still claimed and payment enforced.
The best proposition which the British post office sea
willing to offer, to have rate, Q4d.-equai 10 aoN
IS cents) for which letters to be taken to any
in either countryten pence to represent the seaFs
age and belong to the vessel performing the service
two pence to each country for the inland postage 50
letter going from any part of the United States, M
Astoria, by New York, to London) the United STAG
would receive four cents for its transportation across
continent whilst our own citizens would pay ten ceu
| for the same service. The steamer would be en-
tied to twenty cents to Liverpool or SouthamPn1
and the British government would receive four cehl
for taking it to London--just double, the sum char
her citizens for the same service. In addm1
to this, optional pre- payment is urged; and, as the ma
of the British people has been to prepay, and
the citizens of the United States not to DO So
much larger sum would be probably repaid to the m
ish than the American post office; and to have ever
thing made snug and safe, in the settlement OF the
counts between the two countries, the British ohce pre-
poses that each nation shall keep all the inland posI
collected by it, and only account with each other for
packet postage Such is the liberay, such the coua
tesy such the desire of the British post office to serve
commercial community, and afford facilities for inls7
course between the two countries
We have been surprised further to learn that, wing
the British post Office refused to remove these uncoueo
and lliberal restrictions upon the correspondence bew
the two countries, formal application was made 10 4
government OF the United States for the privilege OF s1
ing by their messenger their colonial eorrtspona1
with the governor general of Canada, through the ons
States, accompanied by distinct intimation that
event of REFUSAL the privilege of sending the despasp
of our government to Mr.. Bancroft by special mess
ger might be withdrawn ard, still more recently an
pcation to have their hostages collected by Inc W.
York post Office, on line of steamers which they "
pose to establish after the lst of May next
York and Bermuda-(probaby Hauana is meano ]
| We need scarcely add, that such facilities as aa]
could be granted by the Post Office Department OF
United States, during the existence of the British "
Office order charging shilling for TRANSPORTING
own letters to England in our own vessels lhey ~
to have forgotten that the United States are mol 0n'
colonies.