The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-03


of dollars but they gave II up the first year TO to
the people the great benefit OF the penny postage system
system OF cheap postage similar IN its general princl-
plies 10 that which have now under consideration
BY making this temporary sacrifice, therefore, they Sc
cured the great good the vast benefits every way which
this system has extended TO the people OF that country
Well then, willing TO make this sacrlhce
Are weiwng the people of this country the
same advantages enjoyed by the people Of Great Britain
and France flor they believe, have introduced low
something like cents, think All the countries
of Europe have made very considerable reduction
Know there who think this rate is too low.
and would prefer the Scent rate. Well, Sir appears
me that il is the wiser and better policy to put down
at once TO the minimum. We have got to come there
and II is a mere question oil hme Our people VIII hol
bear higher rate OF postage than the people OF Other
countries have TO pay, whom we are IN the habit
OF regarding bnldened and oppressed They will
not submit TO the Scent rate. We shall have
to come down; and it is very bad to down
step by step such matter. II we have faith IN
the principle, If we believe the system VIII sustain
self-as must that we cannot come down 10 the
lowest point and cannot avail ourselves OF these bene.
fits without temporary charge upon the ueasury-lt
is the best course to down at to that point
which we regard the minimum. Put this system IN
operation give it far trial. secure its benefits to the
country; and if chance to mistake and place 1t
fraction lower than will pay Tor ITSELF may let II re-
main until the voice OF the people shall decide whether
it is low That ithnk far better than to come
down gradually.
and memorials here from all quarters, and es
peciay from the States, asking for cheap postage
They expect ms and hey exP R,, now how ,a5 hey w
success for eight years We have made parial expert
ment We have Tried it about four years. and every one
satisfied that that experiment has been remarkably sue
cessulsuccessul beyond the most sangune hopes OF It's
advocates at the time. 1t succeeded beyond my own
expectation. We expected that it would be charge
has now ceased We have realized all the bene
fits of the reduction made by very small charge
for a few years, and are now IN condition 10 go
necessary. We able to carry On our
correspondence without any charge whatever upon the
treasury and probably with safety to the revenue
OF this department than under the old system Ihat
has been the result Of partla reducuon-,l partial
system of this kind Now, SIR, have we further to Try
this system its full extent that we may have the iu
benefit of OF there will be temporary charges
upon the treasury but they will amount TO very lllle
and will soon be reduced and removed altogether we
believe, by the rates proposed IN tins bill
know there are senators very enthusiastic upon this
subject and there associations at the North who
advocate still lower rate They want to have the rates
reduced at TO two cents. | do not think, myself
that lower than three cents without burdeng
the treasury department Some say that It would DC
better to have it low even If there was to be small
deficit be supplied from the treasury But this bill Is
founded upon any such idea 1t Is founded upon the
idea that the system-when 1t can have tme-wh
perhaps little aid to pay for the unproducve routes
will itself This was the principle OF the act OF
| 1885, and it verified itself, Mr. President
1t has been suggested that would be well to wait until
OF debt before we incur any such a'dona ex-
penses But fear that will not be very soon, Mr.. Pres
ident We have large debt much increased by the
events of the last few years and fear It will not be
paid off very soon. But sir, the country will not wait IN
regard to this great benefit until we get out OF debt Be-
Sides Mr. President, this charge will not be very con
siderable upon the treasury. | willing 10 risk the
bill with the appropriation which has been provided in
the bill think the department will be perfectly safe
with that Appropriation II Is matter OF general i I'm.
should be small charge upon the treasury. the wishes
of the people ought not to be regarded in this matter
Ii is unnecessary, Mr.. President for to say much
| more upon this subject II is not necessary for me
enlarge upon the advantages of lthe change. You
these advantages In the statistics which have pre-
hrflxy. fhppn Ganl
tersin the increase OF business. The multiplication OF
| letters, whether of business character, growing
with immense advantages. The increase OF letters in
the experiment have already made has been nearly
per cent, and yet when look at the results of the
last year, we see that IN regard to the revenue we
have up nearly to where we were under the old
system. We have fallen less than 100000 short in
Un country u What additional facilities and
have been enjoyed by the people' Why, SIT, we
can only imagine the amount from the increase IN
| the number of communications through the mail We
commenced with 25 millions, and here we have SO mil
lions These advantages are great, TOR each OF these
letters important 10 somebody Whether they are upon
OF business form the social correspondence OF
friends, they alimpotant and attended with important
benefits to the whole people We have secured these
benefits without n loss OF revenue We have something
more than duplicated the number of letters and have thus
than duplicated the advantages OF this great system OF
| inercom municaton, by what we have already done
to disseminate the blessings OF the correspondence OF
the people, whether containing the transactions and
business OF men, whether they are OF Il social and
friendly character, transmitted by relatives, neghbors
and friends These have been than Duplicated and
the blessing which this has been to the people cannot,
think, be too highly appreciated-t is Invaluable
Why, sir, double the amount OF this great good IS
| no small matter; and have done more than that,
without mpairing materially the revenue resulting from
the department Are not then, encouraged to go
and increase the benefits to duplicate again, we have
no doubt we may do-and more than that Sir, this is
mighty moving, changing people, passing from the east TO
the west; and have large population from foreign
countries, OF those who have become our citizens and
Ixyh nte w
are divided by and prares-by vast extents OF
country. That is the Europe, where the masses
of the dense population rarely change Their locality
But, sir, this reduction OF postage Is Important and
worthy of immediate consideration, even IN pohucal
point of view We want to make all citizens mem
bers of the great family. Those who have gone
from the East the West, wish 10 encourage TO keep
their associations and their friendly relations Wewish
to give them every possible and reasonable facility Tor
maintaining their friendship and sympathy with those from
whom they have been separated.
This great system OF cheap postage sir IN connexion
with railroad SYSTEM will strengthen the bonds OF our
Union. Its influence will be felt everywhere-no only
in the transactions of commerce. business and trade
not only in the friendly relations of peoplebut IN
those higher and stronger ties of political sympathy, mu-
tua confidence, and harmony of action There peo
pe sir who are interested in the most liberal and
favorable system OF intercourse between every portion
of the community, than the people OF the United States
Mr. ALLEN to address the Senate, but gave way
| to
Mr. PEARCE, who expressed the hope that the senator
from Ohio would allow the bill under consideration to
over until tomorrow, order to enable hun to submit
some remarks the Senate relative to the subject OF
printing alluded the early part of the day, and also
to action by the Senate upon the pending resou
ton relating to the subject immediate action upon