The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-27

daily paper, when dollar and eighty cents
would discharge the debt at the beginning
We would make still another exception u
the uniform cent postage Ii relates TO the circu-
laton of newspapers within their counties ofpub-
LEGATION. Some persons desire the free circulation
OF every newspaper within the State in which
IL is issued. Others desire only the congress
sional district to be considered in their bestow-
ment of such privilege. But we have never
heard any reason urged in favor of either OF
these demands that would not apply to the first,
second, and third contiguous States, or TO the
whole Union. We have heretofore said ''We
think there are good reasons why every jour
nal should circulate either freely or at the
smallest possible cost in its county of publica-
ton. The county papers the media OF
home information, and the organs of the coun-
: ty courts. Many social interests require their
dissemination. Their record of every mar
rage and every death may be important testi-
mony at some period of time. Estates are le-
gally or illegally disposed Of by bequest or ap
portionment, as these faithfully comply with
the acquisitions of the laws, omit to do So"
! Our opinions upon this point unchanged,
except that, under certain circumstances, an
extension of the privilege would be equitable,
VIZ the people Of any county that contains no
newspaper should be permitted TO receive, on
the same terms as though it were published in
their county, the paper or papers published in
| the nearest town to them, within the limits of
their own State, as such paper papers would
In all probability contain the publications of
their county, to which we refer.
We would not make this IA wholly gratuitous
circulation. 1t will be remembered that when
| law of this kind was once before enacted, the
postmasters complained of the gratuitous labor
ii required them to perform. Its repeal
was effected, we believe, in consequence of
these complaints, Now, as the carriage and
circulation of such papers will occasion no ex-
pense to the Department, we would propose
that the postmasters be authorized to charge
the subscribers receiving from their offices re-
spectlvely, for their own exclusive use, two
mills per paper, payable annually in advance,
but that when the income of any office, at this
rate, shall exceed $50 per quarter, but one mill
be charged by them the next succeeding quar-
ter. By this arrangement, the postmaster at
the place of publication would derive nd profit
but, as his office is always the most lucrative
In the county, there would be nothing oppres-
sive in the case. An inducement to postmas-
tiers to desire the circulation of their county
papers would be supplied also by this plan.
The Postmaster General recommends, on
pamphlets, periodicals, and other printed mat
ter, two ounces or less, two cents, and for each
additional ounce fraction of an ounce one
cent To this we can offer no objection
The only remaining items of discussion in
the details OF postal reform bill relate TO the
charges imposed on our fellow citizens on the
Pacific and their friends in this section OF the
continent The postage recommended on sin
gle letters is twenty cents, and on printed mat
ter twice the inland rates. These appear to be
high charges, when compared with all others
on the proposed schedule. We would prefer
having them fixed much lower, and hope
means of doing SO may be devised but an ex-
animation into the cost of transporting the
mails to and from the post-offices in that re-
gion, and of maintaining those offices, we fear
will suggest the present impossibility of doing
50. Mr.. THURsToN has ardenty denounced
the Determinations but we think he might
have attributed ii to an unwilling necessity,
rather than TO the motives he iancies he sees at
the bottom of it, That the day will soon arrive
when the distinction will not be required, we
fondly hope; but that the mails can be
transported by sea to the isthmus, thence
across the isthmus, and again by steamers TO
the Pacific ports, and TO the final destination Of
each package, respectively, must be attended
with great loss TO the partment at aIly rate of
charge. The Government, however, is will
ing to do its part in this matter; and we can
not doubt that. upon due reflection, the honora
Bile delegate from Oregon, and his constituents
will acquesce in the measures proposed
We conclude by repeating our hope that the
franking privilege shall be annihilated, or that
it may be continued at the expense of the Ma
tional treasury; that editors, and all others now
privileged in any especial manner respecting
exchanges, &C., shall be placed upon an equal
footing with the rest of their fellow citizens; and
in fine, that the Post Office Department shall
be henceforth wholly and entirely untrammeled
by the exactions of other Departments Of the
Governmental liberty to extend its usefulness
to its utmost possible capacity, and to reduce
its tariff of charges TO the lowest rates at which
its efficiency may be sustained. 1t has
long been ably and skilfully conducted, but
never were ability, skill, intelligence, in
dustry, and economy brought to bear in its
service in a more eminent degree than at
the present moment. That the scheme pro-
posed may be applied in practice, under the
guidance Of the present distinguished PoStmas-
ter General and his assistants, is the desire Of
very many of the advocates Of cheap postage,
who will, beyond doubt, be satisfied with the
results of their labors.
lin our article this subject Wednesday.
the 25th instant, the word "desred, in the second
| line Of the second paragraph, should be denied.
Rumored Sbipwreck ofJenny Lind and her
Party.
The public mind was painfully excited yes
terday by rumors in the city that the steamboat
| which conveved Jrsry INn from Wilninutn