Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-05-01

1t is, therefore, of the highest importance
that all sections Of our country should be
supplied with publications of the periodical
press. And to effect this we deem it all
important that newspapers published within
any Congressional district, should circulate,
within such district, free Of postage.
In all counties there is tendency TO CEN
tralizalon ; and this IS seen in business as
in government. 1t is the interest Of Repub-
lcanism--i. is its only salva,ion-,o guard
agaist this. Diffusion, within the restraints
Of wholesome law, of power, intelligence
and wealth is the grea. palladium Of true
liberty and greatness. The tendency Of the
age is TO centra1izaiion. Our railroads, tele-
graphs, steamboats,, all tend to centres-to
build up the cities and thus there is danger
that without proper guards and checks those
Of our Union may become like the ancient
cities of Greece, the dictators of every mea-
sure Of public policy to the nation. No
thing would more effectually contribute TO
this than the concentration Of the press in
The principal cities. And whatever tends
to burden the local press of the nation tends
to this. The present system of newspaper
postage is such burden. !. operates against
country papers, because the citizen Of any
Congressional district in Maryland has to
pay as much postage, or nearly as much for
one Of his own district papers, as for
Philadelphia, New York, or Boston paper.
Besides this, the large city weeklies are
printed in large editions, they are thrown
off by steam by tens Of thousands, and con-
veyed by railroad and steamboat in bales,
as common merchandise out Of the mails,
free Of postage, to their agents for distribu
ton, while the local paper throws off its
few hundreds, and circulates them in con-
sequence Of its pauchy of subscribers, of
necessity through the mails.
WHAT'S the effec, of this? Very evident
Iy to de,rac, from local and home attach
ments-to discourage home enterprise. By
a law Of our being we prize those scenes
most with which we are most familiar, and
by the operation Of our present unequal
postage system, our people are becoming
interested in matters foreign while domestic
affairs are unknown TO them.
In advocating these views we ask for no
privileges which the necessity of the peo-
pie do not demand. The people in the
sparseiy settled sections of the country have
a RICH, to the public news on the same terms
as those in large cities, and on the borders
Of our public .horoughfares. With such a
just and wholesome regulation as the one
suggested, the local press would grow up
in healthy vigorous prosperity. Thousands
of persons would then take papers that now
seldom see one f; and while knowledge from
abroad would receive no abatement, the
news and business of domestic character
would become matters Of much deeper in
,erest. We therefore present the following
resolutions for the consideration and ap-
proval Of the Convention
Resolved, That we highly approve Of
the efforts now making 10 induce the Con
gress Of the United Stale to adopt the sys-
tenn Of cheap postage, proposed to their con-
sderaton, by substituting the chorge Of two
cents for every half ounce, to be prepaid,
upon all letters. and for any distance which
the same be carried through the maitland
five cents in like manner, when not prepaid.
Aeso7ved, That it is the decided convic-
ton Of this Convention, that newspapers
should be circulated free Of postage in the
Congressional Districts in which they are
published; and that a law TO this effect
would meet the very general approval of the
people of this State, and tend to the greater
diffusion of knowledge among them.
Reso7red, That we earnestly RECON-
mend TO our Senators and Representatives
in Congress to endeavor to procure the pas
sage of law in conformity with the above
resolution.
Reso7oed, That the Chairman and Sec
rotary be requested TO communicate the &C.
ton of this Convention, on this subject, to
each Of our Representatives and Senators in
Congress.
The Committee would remark that the
practice of inserting graluitously notices Of
meetings of companies and associations, has
become burden upon the country press.
We believe that editors are not less willing
than other men, 10 give according to their
abilities; but when this is done they have
performed their duty. When others pursue
their avocalions without charge, it will be
time enough for editors to ''do likewise"
Resolved, That the Country Press of
Maryla adept, with slight alteration, the
"revised regulations" recently adopted by
the Baltimore city publishers, to wit:
/. communications, the effect Of which
is to promote private interests, are matters
Of charge, and are to be paid for at the rate
Of fifty cents per square.
2. advertisements for Companies or
Associations of any kind, denomina,ional,
charitable or otherwise, or for public meet
ings, are in all cases to be paid for at the
usual rates." and that the proceedings Of
political assemblages and obituary notices,
or eulogies in addition to the announcement,
to be charged for at fifty cents per square.