The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-03

lister plenlpoienary IN London, addressed TO Lord Pal
meslon, the subject of the late order issued by the
British Postmaster General levying double postage all
letters conveyed in American mail packets from the
United States to the United Kingdom and from the latter
to the United States Ii is the only document which of
all the papers forwarded by Mr. Bancroft TO the State
Department considered proper for publication, con-
ssten with the public interest pending the negotiations
with Engand-Cour y Eng
tcopyl
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister
penpotentiay OF the United States of America had the
honor the 18th OF July last and more fully on the 10th
of August last 10 make overtures to Vscount Palmers
ton, Her Maestys Principal Secretary of State for For
egn Affairs, for posta arrangement between the United
States and the United Kingdom.
The undersigned has this day received from her Ma
jesty's Postmaster General memorandum upon the sub
ject, 10 be communicated to his government Pending
the negotiation II is right that the status of the two par
ties should be equal Yet the undersigned is apprzed
that the order No o. issued by the General Post Office in
june 1SI7 by which discriminating double postage is
levied upon letters conveyed IN American mail packets
from the United States 10 the United Kingdom and from
the United Kingdom TO the United States, continues 10 be
enforced.
The free intercourse by letter between more than fifty
millions Of people, whose mother tongue is the English,
and OF whom nearly half dwell on the western side
of the Atlantic is OF such moment to general commerce,
international friendship private affection, and TO the con-
diton and prospects OF the cultivated word that even
temporary restriction OF that freedom may well demand
the serious attention of all who desire to cherish relations
of amity between kindred nations
II is therefore, with deep regret that the undersigned
feels compelled TO protest against the Post Office order
in question:
l. AS the act Of a department of Her Majesty's gov
eminent, without the warrant OF British statute.
1t is very true that Lord Pamerston, IN his note OF the
9th August, following letter which he had received
from that department insists that che act OF the "a and
4rh Victoria expressly declares that all letters not weigh
ing more than half an ounce, which shall be transmitted
by the post between the United Kingdom and the United
States of North America, shall be chargeable with a
r3t nj Il
act provides that the expression by the post shall
be understood nclung the transmission OF post letters
by packet-boals."
But the declarations of law to which Lord Palmerston
refers, evidently relate to the British packet service and
do but regulate the duties OF British postage Great Brit
ain might well, by act of Parliament, regulate the du
ties of postage within the United States, regulate by
act OF Parliament, the rates chargeabe for convey
American packeb boats, upon the great and COM
mon highway oil the nations.
And the schedule referred to in the act above men
toned is 10 be applied to American packet-boas, the
Pos, Office order in question conravenes the act Tor II
evesa second postage when one had already been paid
thus making the rate charged between the United States
and the United Kingdom two shngs, for what the act
referred 10 declares shall be but UNIFORM rate OF one
shilling.
Or, did the British legislature seriously intend by law
to transfer exclusively TO its eXchequeI the whole
return for the packetservce of foreign nations sending
packets to her ports The suppositon that Parliament
have intended, not to be enertaned Tor that
intention would have been inconsistent with equity and
with internal rights. In confirmation OF the opinion that
such not the intention of the legislature the under.
signed appeals confidently Lord Palmerston himself
who at that time of its members, and to his col
leages of that day. in the ministry and Parliament.
H. But if the letter of the act Of Sd and 4th VIC
toria chap 90, should seem to authorize the imposition
of discriminating double postage the undersigned would
still protest against the post office order IN question: as OF
most unfriendy character contrary to the principles OF
perfect reciprocity which should govern the postal ar
engagements between the countries Lord Pamerston Is
well aware that the act alluded to is not mandatory but
that discretion rests with the Lords of the Treasury or
any three OF them, with regard to its application The
post office order to which the undersigned has already
called the attention of her Majesys government, as
sumes therefore, undeniaby the character OF an execu-
tive act not required by law.
The degree of unfrendness which has been manifest
ed, will appear rom comparing the rates charged on the
American mails brought in the American packet to South
ampon, and forwarded from Southampton to Havre with
those which the British government asked and accepted
from the American government Tor the conveyance IRON
Boston to St Johns, in Canada, OF their closed mails
brought in British packets 10 Boston. special express
conveyance, Tor the sole purpose OF transporting that MAIL
was established by the American government and moth
ing than of twopence haf-penny for sing
letter OF half or about spence the ounce nett
weight was demanded for mail thus exclusively inst.
tuted for that service and the British Post Office, for
conveying the American closed mails from Southampton
to the French shore, distance less than hall AS great
the distance from Boston to St Johns with no un-
usual speed and in the least expensive manner, exacis
Tour francs, or nearly seveniod the sum pad 10 America
for more than twice the service.
H. The undersigned further protests against the Post
Office order IN question: not only as illegal and unirendy
but also as unprecedented 1t is true, Lord Pamerson
explains "tha the United States is not the only country
10 which the aforementioned act has been so applied
but the contrary the regulation by which packet post
charged upon letters and newspapers conveyed by
foreign packets has been invariably acted upon in regard
TO letters conveyed by the mapackets OF all foreign coun
tries" Now, there are but two nations besides the UNI
ted States which convey letters to this island by their own
mal-packets, viz: France and Belgium "All foreign
countries referred by Lord Pamerston therefore,
be only France, Belgium, and America Has 'the above