The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-21


founding facts in the columns of the Union,
that the Southern Democracy may be upon
their guard"
Reduction of Postage.
At an early period of the late session of Con
gress the reduction of postage on letters and
other mailable matter was pressed upon the at
tention of that body in an emphatic manner.
The memorials and petitions presented were
numerous beyond precedent, and We're charac-
terized by a remarkable unanimity Of opinion
on the part Of the petitioners These petitions
were but family responded to but, whatever
may have been the desires of majority of the
members of Congress on the subject, their fail
ure 10 take cognizance of ii has, we think, been
justly attributable TO another very obvious
cause-we mean the all absorbing interest Of
other questions then pending.
In order to state this question Alright, it
will perhaps be well to give the present rates
of postage, which we will do as concisely as
possible:
Cents.
Letters, each OF. or less, 300 miles or less. =. 3
4" over 300 miles ... 10
Circulars, handbills, &C., printed litho
graphed, per sheet, prepaid. ............... 3
Pamphlets, magazines, and other matter, one
ounce or less observation-disclosures. y
Each additional ounce or fraction. .......... /
Newspapers not exceeding l 900 square inches,
sent from office of ISSUE 100 miles or less &C.. l
Newspapers over 100 miles, and out of State. Il
Newspapers sent by other person than pub
Usher, prepaid. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
These are the present terms for those who
pay postage; but the number of those who do
not, and the extent Of their privileges, are sub
jects worthy attention. These persons are the
! President of the United States, the ex-Presi-
! dents, the widows of ex-Presidents, the Vice
! President. Senators, Representatives, and Del
egates in Congress, Governors of States in
their correspondence with each other, the Post
master General and Assistants, editors and
publishers exchanging papers, postmasters writ
ing on official business; and those whose COM
generally free Of charge.
The requests in the petitions called for the
reduction of letter postage for any distance
! to tiro cents, half ounce being fixed upon as
I the weight Of single letter In accordance
with these requests, bill was presented in the
Senate, on the Sd Of April last, by Senator
RUsK, fixing the rate at tico cents if prepaid,
and fee if not; but, subsequently, this Senator
submitted an able report on the subject, and
| changed his plan, recommending uniform
rate Of tro cents, prepaid. This bill was not
acted upon by the Senate. But in the House
| Of Representatives, on the oath of July, Judge
! Potter, the chairman OF the Post Office Com
mittee, presented report and bill in which
three cents, prepaid, and flee if not, were re-
commended This bill failed to receive the at
tention OF the House during the session. We
| are informed by a writer, whom we believe 10
| be correct, that the committee were divided in
! opinion respecting their proposition. He states
that folT Of It's members were in favor Of free
cents; t,co were for three and fire ; and three
for a uniform rate Of t,ro cents, prepaid.
The following is a synopsis Of this bill:
/ The first section fixes half an ounce as the
weight Of a single letter, and makes the charge
three cents, if prepaid, and FIVE if not, TO any
part OF the Union.
The second charges upon newspapers noteN-
ceeding 800 square inches surface, half a
cent within the State Of publication, and one
cent beyond il. Pamphlets, books periodicals,
SC, to be charged two cents per ounce; bound
books, Of not more than thiyty-two ounces
weight. TO come within the class
The third authorizes the minis 10 coin three
cent pieces.
The fo,rh authorizes stamps representing
three cents to be issued by the Postmaster Gen
eral, and to be sold by Postmasters, TO whom,
as well as to other persons, a discount Of ten
per cent is TO be made, when fifty dollars
worth are purchased.
The Gfh approprates half million of dol
lars TO supply any deficiency that may arise in
the Post Office Department.
a minority report was submitted by a single
member, (Mr DURKEE,) which cmbodlcs in
a comprehensive manner the arguments in ia
vor Of the adoption of f,ro cents, prepaid, as the
just price u postage throughout the Union, and
the reduction Of the charges upon newspapers,
books, &c. II declares that the people Of the
Union were never more united IN any purpose
than in calling upon Congress for this reduction,
and sets forth many facts in illustration Of the
| advantages Of the measure.
We will endeavor to state substantially the
provisions Of the bill accompanying this report.
The first section fixes two cents, prepaid,
as the uniform postage Of a letter sent any dis
lance, the weight not exceeding half an ounce
and one cent for each drop letter.
The secoud orders the sale at all post Offices
Of stamps representing two, four, and ten cents.
The third makes the postage on newspapers
uniformly one cent; and on periodicals and
pamphlets half a cent an ounce haDdbills and
circulars TO be charged as letters, and bound
books at a cent an ounce.