The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-21
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1850.
HOUSE or REPREsEsTArIvEs.

HOUSE OF AEPhEsENTATlVES.
COMMITTEES ON PRINTING AND THE LIBRARY.
The SPEAKER has appointed Messrs. McWILLIE,
and Messrs. HOLMES. DUER, and H. MANN, the Library
Committee on the part OF the House.
DELEGATE FROM NEW MEXICO.
Mr.. BOYD asked the consent Of the House to intro
s o, Won The 81 on r
seat the floor Of the House delegate from the Ter
roy Of New Mexico, with all the rights and privileges
enjoyed by The delegates Of the other Territories @
Mr.. BOYD moved that the Committee on Territories
be discharged IRON the further consideration Of the
mortal and certificate OF election OF Mr. MEssERvY and
that they be referred to the Committee Of Elections
The motion was agreed to.
POSTAGE REFORM.
The House resolved itself into Committee OF the
Whole on the state OF the Union, (Mr Burr in the
chair and resumed The consideration OF the bill to re-
duce and modify the OF postage 10 which several
Mr. THOMPSON Of Pennsylyana. said. Mr.. Chair.
man, when my riend the honorable member irom Ohio,
Mr. CARTIER moved Yesterday that the committee rise,
after had Obtained The floor, had intended merely to
submit proposition for The consideration Of the commit
tee on the subject OF low postage shall do but little
more now propose 10 amend the bill Of the committee
in substance as follows: That newspapers may be ccu-
a,sa Tree OF postage within me counties ~ WHICH they
one-half cent posage-equaling twentysix cents per
year for weekly paper when printed out of the State.
one cent and transient ewspapers two cents each This
is in substance the proposition shall have the honor to
present for the consideration OF the committee and this
amendment involves The entire question n regard TO low
postage
IL will be perceived think that the contest here will
be between letter and newspaper reduction Ga the sub
lect OF letter postage am IN favor OF reduction to
uniform rate Of live cents for all distances single let
ers At present II is fye cents under three hundred
miles, and ten cents for all distances beyond that except
ing when sent to Oregon and California This great
reduction IN the present rates. but II is believed that the
increased amount of matter that will be sent through the
mails under this standard OF rates will very make
good any immediate reduction of the This has
been the result OF the reductions heretofore made For
the present. think this amount OF reduction would be
safe experiment. and with the reduction newspapers
as propose, would leave the department still able, with
out any injurious cuailment OF its facilities 10 RELY on
lis own revenues without calling the general treasury
Tor and TO sustain it. This. think. should be steadily
kept In view The reduction on letter postage 10 uni
form rate of five cents is vast dminuon in favor OF
that branch OF matter when compared with the old sys.
tenn Of from six cents 10 twenty i've cents and should be
You will recollec Mr.. Chairman. in iSa5 land be-
lieve you were member OF that Congress when the
reform OF ye and ten cent letter postage was establish
postage within thirty miles OF the place Of publication
In lo47 this provision was repealed, and the old
well remember Originated more ia The ereum.,spes o.
the greatly reduced compensation Iosmasies than on
account OF revenue. General complaints were made BY
these officers and when they provided for in the
law of ls47 the system OF Tree Circulation was abolish
ed. thought then, aud think now, that this was
great error The result Of experience has demonstrated
/
shows thai the surplus OF the department for
the year ending june $780, the OF revenue above
expenditures S3ioois O5 Sir, the circulation OF
payers within thirty miles OF their place OF pu blication
am satisfied did not make up that amount OF revenue
the consequence OF which is. III am correct that the
increased compensation OF posmasters might have been
arranged as was IN 1S57 and the newspaper postage
continued fixed by the ACT or 1885, 10 wit free within
thirty miles. and still The department remain clear OF debt
Tnis is all that body should desire II will be renem
bered too, hst this surplus in 1850 is consequent
the curalmen Of mail facilities, for they have been great
ly extended both 10 the number OF Offices created
and routes extended
But, sir live reduce the letter postage TO three cents
uniform rate, one of two things viii certainly follow, II
not both unproductlve Offices will have to be dscon
nued, and increased facilities denied and the free circu
laton OF newspapers be prevented altogether The tims
will come, andvery soon think, when this reduction
may take place; but do not believe 1t now with
out the consequences have adyeried 10. Ny PROPOSE
ton, Think may be adopted without the production
either oftbese results see that the sum derived from
newspaper and pamphlet postage is Soi9,4s5 %, Fron
hostages on newspapers still chageable with postage
circulating through the mails printed out OF the count,
and State in which they are taken. have means %
making more than an approximate estimate OF The loss
revenue that would the circuaisn free in Ia,
counties where printed but do not think IL would ex
coed $4,000 or s2Oo.ooo per annum. II this should
he 60, VAL be seen that the OF revenue OF hs
last year, taken standard expenditures, will
with this reduction leave the department still free
debt. 4 !, r.,,sts
Mr.. Chairman. il any specific legislation may be hal
that clause Of the constitution that authorizes Con
gress TO egsa,e for the general welfare" think this
Is that Sir the newspapers OF our country are III
scboolmasers. and the printing Offices her great school
houses The transient literature Of the periodical pres,
il vastly important than the permanent, or, IL
may the expression, established literature Of the
country To encourage these disseminate knowledge
and increase power The only thing in The world. ex
cepng the dews OF Heaven light and heat, that suit.
the tastes OF all is the proniscuous newspaper II
welcome letter, bearing intelligence from every quarter
from all parts OF the wordom the land oil the strange
the distant location OF the friend and acquaintance
crafty and cheer the family circle OF every house cottage
cabin in the land Is this worth the fostering
OF government II is not for to eulogixs the value
the printing press All know IT, and feel IT, u is the
great consevaior OF public opinion and public morals, a
well a. the teacher Of the arts and scienceA and
will doubt but that il would be immensely increased il
II the tax on the prints i dissemnaies were
at that result II need not be dsguisedndeed. csnno
be-thaf something of the kind is necessary 10 protec
4 the country press. would not be willing in any
to avow myself in favor Of protection Tor protection
/ press. - N. 49, !. 4. n. .i-'esf "A,
4 The able gentleman from North Carolina mr. vKrA
BLEJ gave yesterday his views in regard 10 the de-
suuctve eject that the present system would, IL coniin
usd have on the country press did entsey agree
with him in regHsd W the character OF the city press
MOI Of Them are entitled 10 The admifstio and c6men
dalton Of Ell buti ID very certain that, the newspape
reader must pay a. much postage when his Pspssois
which " " printed when ent from any place In the
wksts ihs xciiss fol ptissin pakss ts pFiee ne
greater, IRON some OF the great commescisl Or msropo
tan etes Thus time the tastes, ideas, and septmept
OF all will be established by press, In fact. Foreign 70 the