The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-04-20
On melton of Mr.. Vanderford the fol-

ing more UNIFORM rate OF postage, Is OF
deep interest to every citizen Of Mary
land: il is incumbent upon us. as the
Representatives OF the press of Maryland
10 express freely and fully our opinions
upon that subject; therefore =.
Resolved, That the committee ap-
poi"ted to report business for the &C
ton OF this convection, take into consid-
Grafton that subject and report thereon
On motion OF Beale n. Richardson
and Samuel Sands, Esqs. were added to
The committee to prepare busiueus tor
the action Of the convention. %
On motion, the meeting adjourned I'M
til Tuesday at II o'clock.
The convention met Tuesday at
l o'clock. ar. J S. Skinner was invl-
ted 10 be a member, and being requested
made some very appropriate general
remarks in reference to the press, its
influence and its destiny on the rising
generation. r1.nI a.,
The Committee appointed 10 .repars
business for the Convention, submitted the
following report and resolutions:
| AEPOfI.
The Committee appointed by the Con-
vention to suggest subjects for its action,
have had under their consideration varl-
Gus important matters, Of deep laterest not
only TO the conductors OF the Presa Of Ma
ryland, but to The. whole population Of the
State. The first to which we would call
attention is the subject of cheap postage,
and which by special resolution OF the
Convention yesterday we were directed
TO consider. 1t is now claiming the earn
est attention Of the public mind, and there
is an evident wish prevailing all oceupa-
tions of society 10 have the rates Of post
age reduced.
1t is peculiarly the province Of the
press to urge upon the attention OF the
National Legislature the importance Of
this Question, IN every phase in which it
can be presented, upon the welfare and
convenience of the people; and more es-
pscially as one OF those bonds which are
calculated to preserve and bind still closer
the union of these States. The experience
Of older nations, since the introduction of
the system of cheap postage, has clearly
evinced ITS beneficial effects upon the
great mass Of the people, indccing more
extended correspondence between distant
parts OF the same territory, and thus en-
couraglng those social as we'll as business
relations, which are calculated " increase
the happiness and prosperity of the human
family: and It has at the same time shown
that this great good can be accomplished
by the National Government, not only
without requiring aid from the public
exchequer, eut, in tact, is the means, or
can be made such, Of lesscning the bur-
den OF the people for the maintenance OF
other necessary objects. To our country,
its Importance connot be over-estmatcd-
not only in the increase OF social and bust
ness relations, but by being the means Of
strengthening those ties which bind our
vast territory with the chords OF affection,
and multiplying those interests which
shall forever be the strongest bulwark of
our mighty, our glorious republic. If
these objects alone were attalnable, by en-
tire freedom from he tax on postage, who
would not be willing that the measure
should be carried out, even if it were ne
cessary, as in such case it would be, that
the expenditures requisite for the whole
machinery Of the post Office department
were drawn from the general treasury of
the nation-what patriot would, for one
moment, permit the consideration. OF any
sum, which should be required for the pur-
pose, to ovrrbalance the. still wsightisr
benefits which would accrue. from these
additional lisaments for the preservation
Of our federal system! !
But we need not 60 to tn. experience
of'other nations 10 prove the utility, the
expedIency, the practicability, aye, the
OF the system which IS urged
upon the adoption Of Congress. Our own,
official documents will prove conclusively,
in a money point Of view, (Which, how
ever, We deem the last important feature
in the consideration Of the subject,) that
the interests Of the Government, if those
interests can be considered in any degree
from those OF the people repre-
scented, call loudly for the further, reduc-
ton in the rates Of postage. From the
data thus furnished we find that, during
the last year Of the old system, when the
rates Of postage charged were 6, 10 to IS
cents on a single piece Of paper, and in
the same ratio Tor each enclosure, the num-
Der OF letters which passed through the
post amounted 10 "a, 2G7 $50 and the rev.
enus to $4,374,713-not sufficient to eup-
port the Department; and appropriations,
to make good the deficiency, were requir-
ed to be made by Cong ress-and those OPP,
posed to the proposed reduction, among
them the Heads OF the Department, urged
this as an argument against it. declaring it
that such an effort should be
made under such circumstances. Yet the
friends Of the measure We're perseverlng,