The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-02

.ddn nui 1850 the following resolutions were
Whereas the resolutions inadvertently published
IN some Of the newspapers, and purporfing TO have
been adopted by the directors on the 18th Decem-
ber l54S, were offered, but not definitely acted
upon BY the board; and whereas il has been
tanned that they not strictly in accordance with
the object Of the association a. set forth in the %
article Of its constitution ra4
Resolyed That as one Of the original and funda-
mental objects Of the association is 70 effect posa
reform, by which prepaid letters under half
shall be carried for two cents 70 all distances
in the United States, it be recommended TO the
friends of cheap postage throughout the Union TO
| petition Congress TO establish this rate
ResoIpsd, That the draft Of circular and petition
and that the corresponding secretary and treasurer
be authorized TO have the above resolution and the
circular printed and circulated throughout the
sILAs WOOD, Chairman pro tenn.
ISAAC WissLow, jr., Recording Sec'ry
CIRCULAR.
To each friend Of Cheap Postage in the United States
SlR: The New York Cheap Postage Association
request your Immediate attention to these few hints,
in relation To public object Of great moment,
which il in situation TO require your individual
and earnest attention.
The Report Of tho Postmaster General has slisap-
pointed the friends Of cheap postage. With
most prosperous condition of the Department; with
q rapid increase OF busincss with an income of
,652, 762 from letters alone and SSl9 .Oi6 from
newspapers; with clear surplus in hand Of $69l-
6S2, which win be increased by the 3Oth OF June TO
81 ,03S,7l0; and with the people expecting the
adoption Of proper system OF CHEAP. postage, ne
1--WE cents per half-0unce! ~
On the great mass Of letters this is no reduction
at all. On calculation, which is certainly large.
he supposes 1t may reduce the revenue SITE, 900,
which will not nearly absorb the surplu1 But If it
should have the effect which all other reductions Of
rate have had, the increase Of letters sriu tsan
compen.ate for e ios0er price, and keep up ne rspsT
4 M q Drese7lf aanrk =
Tho expense OF transportation Of the mail in this
country 10 a. ,407; and in Great Britain it il
as chssply as England. The whole cost Of our
post office Is 049 of the British. 7,0I6,250,
which is all paid BY he penny postage. Our twenty
one millions Of people, with the same privilege,
| twenty seven millions, which would give us two
hundred and seventy millions to their three hun
dred and forty-six millions. At the lowest calcu-
number Of letters nc very first YEAR Il did 80 in
England, where the weekly number Of letters,
which in 1910 2,lO2, 2Sl, became 4.s55, 1871 in
! ls4i This would give one l hundrsd and twenty.
year. The postage Of Congress, Il charged At pre-,
| sent rates, the Postmaster General says, would
amount to 1872 100, besides what is paid to post
masters for delivering free letters, at two cents
each, amounting to nearly 100000 more, all
which Congress ought to pay out Of it, contingent
| fund. To this add Ss5OOO0 for newspaper post
Of he o sesa Be- rs m
Il
ought, to the navy account. There can be no
doubt that, by the time the surplus ON hand is
exhausted, the vigorous increase Of postage would
enable the Department to support itself out Of its
current receipts.
Five cents is not sscheap postage" This is a
technical term, well understood, and il applied TO
the philosophical system invented by Rowland Hill,
and which has been in in England for ten years.
Penny postage, or two cents, il what all mean by
cheap letters for what it is worth,
and not taxing letters to pay for Other objects The
a In Ifa hat he
can be afforded for two cents and therefore that is
the only just measure Of its valuc-money's worth
for the service performed.
WHAT Is TO BE DONE ABOUT 1T? II is very evil
dent that something must be done or shall not
have it. Providence never intended that's free peo-
pie should obtain 30 great boon without an effort
Cheap postage is for the people," and if the people
wish for 1t they must say
What then shall be done about III If something
70 TO be done, somebody must do it. Whose bust
meas 10 IL Evcrybody's' In one sense il ia every
body business, because everybody is 70 be bene-
fitted by it. impartially al they would be by sweet
ening the air in time Of pestilence. But, "what is
everybody's business is nobody's business,' and II
leff there 1t will not be done. You must do tit is
| ssWhat shall do?" What is wanted is ancx-
precision Of the peoples WISH that Congress can
in three ways, some all Of which are within the
power Of each and every reader Of these lines and
therefore you are justly responsible for 90 much.
These measures are:
| magazines Let every press speak.
2. Writing letters to members Of Congress. II
| not personally acquainted, you represented by
some one: and have right TO address him on mat
5. PErIrIoss.-Thc multiplication of petitions is
the main reliance now If million petitions
be sent to Congress before the first Of February,
shall have cheap postage. Multiply them.
PxTITrosINo.
Its efficacy depends more on the number Of petit
tons than ON the number of names TO each-provi-
ded each one IL signed by responsible persons.
Petitions should not only be numerous but should
represent the wishes Of all the various interests,
classcs, and divisions that are found in society
trade, learning, humanity, education, religion, ag
| rculture, &c. &C. Let us, by way Of example,
enumerate some classes or divisions from which
petitions may come
| l. The President and Faculty Of a College
| 2. The Students ofa College.
3. The Professors and Students of q Medical Col
Z. The Professors and Students Of Theological
| s. The Principal and Scholars of an Academy.
6. The Inhabitants Of School District
7. The Superintendent and Teachers Of a Sabbath
8. The Minister, Ofice-b bearers, and Members Of
church or congregation.
3. The Proprietor and Employees OF workshop
10. The President and Directors ofa Bank
~. The President and Directors Of an Insurance
Company. Iaffta
u. The President and Directors Of any other bust
meas corporation.
10. The Officers and Members Of a Chamber Of
Commerce.
a. The Officers and Managers Of Benevolent
Society, formed for any purpose, or by any name
whatever.
rs. The Members Of any private club, society, or
| reunion. 10
is. The Officers, Managers, and Members Of any
Agricultural Society.
| ~. The Officers, Managers, and Members OF any
society for the advancement OF art, science, ters
| turc, or discovery.
IS. Every Library Company and Lyceum
l9. Tho Publishers, Editors, and Printers Of every
| Newspaper.
20. Any other collection Of persons, organized or
casual, In dwelling, hotel, public place, else
where.
| There Is no incongruity or improperly in an In
dividual signing moro than Of these petitions,
as representing various relations and interests,
where ID " done in good faith.
| We do not doubt that you, sir, TO whom this
circular Is addressed, whose eye now traces
these lines, belong or have access TO some one or