The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-24
THE REPU BLIC.

the extension of the cheapest possible postal
facilities: for he readily acknowledged that
. the interest of the people and the sympathes
of the people are all with the movements to
reduce the rates of postage"
Mr. MORSE, who also appeared in the same
category, and whose opposition betrayed him into
eXclalmlng-'' must confess have nogreat ad-
miratlon of the benefits derived from the press
| ! think that, unfortunately, within the last
ten years it has. very much degenerated in
character, and unless some very great reform
takes place, the less, in my opinion, it is cir
culated, the better for the happiness, peace,
and interests Of this country !''--was neyerthe-
less constrained to condense his opposition into
the single remark that g the people have no
| right 10 come and ask this House to furnish
them with reading matter at the national ex-
| pense!"
Mr.. BOWIE, of Maryland, changed his views
| upon the proposed measure, SO far as to give it
the cold shoulder, in consequence of the en-
| ghtenment he had received during the discus
sion think, /" said he, THAT this is par
| ticulariy inopportune time for proposing such
| a reduction of the letter postage as will re-
qulre the imposition of tax of ST., 800 900
| on The treasury" I'VE have been told that
our public debt is not now less than seventy
| millions of dollars, and that in 1852 it will be
some eighty millions of dollars.' This MIR.
BOWIE thought good reason why the National
Treasury should not be taxed for the sup
| port Of the Department But what does
he propose with reference to the subject To
relieve the Department of any incumbrance
by no means but, on the contrary, 'sthat all
letters addressed to officers and sailors of
the United States navy or officers and prvates
OF the marine corps, or officers and privates of
the United States army, in actual service,
shall be carried free of postage on the mail
routes Of the United States, by sea or land ~
Here 1t will be perceived that he is not. like
others, a stlckler for separate accounts between
the Post Office Department and the General
Government, but would be willing to tax
the Department rather than give to it, On this
head he explains himself Enthusiastically in
these words: g Had not the people as well
be taxed tor the transportation OF their letters
as be taxed indirectly for the payment of the
public debt Is it not wholly immateral to
our constituents whether we draw this
money from the right-hand pocket or from
the left 1t comes ultimately from them.
You cannot reduce it to any other complexion
at last. The money is at last taken from the
pockets of our constituents !" These senti-
ments are not unfamiliar to US, but they are
novelties proceeding from the lips of the liberal
and intelligent Representative from Maryland,
whose ideas of 50 discrimination" and 'protec-
tion" We're not always in keeping with them.
MIR. NENABLE saw the subject in another
light ''There is no reason" said he, '.that the
Post Office should be self-supporting institu-
ton. On former occasion | said that there |
was equal reason why the army should support |
itself by plumber, or the navy by piracy. |
repeat the remark. The gallant navy protects |
our merchant marine, which covers every sea |
with Its canvass, and our army, legitimately |
employed, protects our people from foreign in
vasion; whilst the Post Office establishment, |
with its facilities of communication, bears home
to the family Vi the sailor and soldier the news |
of his well-being. Whilst the cruises OF the |
one and the marches of the other are often re-
corded in blood, and present the annals of de-
vastation, the messages of the other unite hearts
that are distant and cherish the hottest sensi- |
biities of our nature. Go to the sequestered |
mountain gorge. and enter the cabin which is seen
in some solitary cave; mark the tear Of joy which
falls upon the letter held by female hand,
who deciphers by torch-light its bady-wrtten
lines, and you will witness the outpourings of a
mothers heart who learns that long lost son,
escaped from the perils of land and sea- hastens
to her embrace She will thank Heaven for
the paternal care of that Government which.
in this instance at least has, like the dew of
Heaven. refreshed as well the humble valley as
the aspiring mountain top. Sir, no man in this
House will dare 10 refuse mail facilities because
the expenses exceed the revenue in sparsely-
settled districts | should like to see the man
50 daring as to make this distinction between
the rich and the poor should, however, be
more astonished at his folly than filled with
admiration at his boldness. The people have
right 10 these means Of communication. and
Government dare not deny II 10 them. As soon
would | vote against the provision of regiment
to protect a frontier settlement because the ex-
pense would exceed the value Of the property
protected, as TO deny the facilities Of mail To
new or sparsely settled community"
In our opinion, the Department should be so
ordered as 10 be self-sustaned, should be ex-
empt from all taxation, and should accommo-
date the public upon the lowest terms that
would be- compatible with this design. The
ascertainment Of the true standard Of charges
must necessarily require experience; and it
may be possible that, in the course Of expert
ment, Temporary relief from the general funds
Of the treasury may be needed. Ilso, it should
be given; but other aid should never be de
pended upon nor desired.
There Is truth and reason in what is said
respecting the duty Of the Government, as a
guardian Of the people, and it is true that "the
general welfare" may appear to demand its
sustaining aid; yet, convinced that such aid