The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-27
For the UnioA.

tUf
What A.vs shs isas.As o. oAs-p Postage accom-
This inquiry win be made by all who have contributed
promote thus benevolent object and il is proper that
full and explicit answer should be given.
To answer i satisfactorily. and to make distinct i'm.
preston on the public OF The advantages resulting from
Once should be Ss sna q q. ns
and former rates OF postage duly considered.
Prior TO is4s every one knows that the rates Of postage
were g. TO- 12A ISL, and 20 cents single letter and
for every piece OF paper enclosed. however light small
an additional rate chaged and for three enclosures
quadrlpe postage must be paid This mode Of changing
in properly rating the letters, and cause OF much an
noyance TO the people. whose letters were mol unire-
quenty oyercharged
pendtures OF the Post Office Department IRON $40 TO
lS43 inclusive, exceeded the receipts by 56s00o the
letters had fallen OF from about twenty nine millions TO
twenty four millions, and the post roads had been re-
duced %, $40 miles While the business and the popua-
ton oil the country were increasing every year, the rev.
OF the department and the number OF letters Were
ury was made to keep the Post Office from bankruptcy.
II true that the Postmaster General Wicklihe) insii.
uted suits against numerous individuals for carrying let
tiers, but in almost every instance the courts decided
against him. The Post Office unpopular; the people
would not pay these high rates, and public opinion sus
tanned those who would carry letters cheaper than the
Let US contrast the position OF the Post Office Depart
ment in lS49 with what it in 1910, under the old
rates OF postage According TO the very able report oil
the Hon Charles Durkee one OF the House Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads, 'the post roads have
been increased 1853 miles, and the annual ransporta
uon OF the mails .902 500 miles, since the reduction Of
postage in ls45. The number Of new post Offices eslab
lshed up JULY 1850. 5,29S The revenue OF the
year ls49 increased to greater amount by $l46 600
than had been collected 10 any ear since the Post
Office Department was established and after paying all
its expenses, there remained surplus OF 1851 1882 81 for
that and on the ist Of july 1880 there would be
have the mail facilities and revenue been increased to
this extent but the number of letters has been aug
mened from twenty iour millions 70 seventy millions per
annum This is brief view of the present position oil
the Post Office Department, and contrasts favoraby with
its condition prior 10 the reduction Of postage:
To have accomplished as much as this is no small
achievement, and must be highly CRAFTY ng 10 the friends
OF cheap postage especially when it is remembered that
the whole force and patronage OF the Post Once Depart
men! throughout the country with few honorable ex
cepiions, were arrayed against them.
Ii the reduction O postage has been 90 advanas eous
the Post Once, has been much more so TO the people
The has been increased. and yet the people have
been relieved from burdensOme The reduction oil
The old Rates TO hye and ten cents was most saulay re-
form But the adoption OF wsghf. instead oil pieces, IN
rating letters OF much greater importance both TO
The Post Office and the communiy 10 the former it has
proved saving OF labor, and TO the latter vast reduc-
lion in their postage bills For example. under the tor.
mer o. tenn, letter containing three enclosures however
light or small. sent iron New York TO Boston, Baiti.
more, Washington, and Cersa. was then charged
seveny-hve CENTS whereas the same can now De sent
Tor five cents II sent 4U0 miles, the same letter
would be charged dollar, but II will now be carried
| for ten cents
These are some OF the advantages resulting om me
exeons Of the friends OF cheap postage, and without
" hch they would not have been obtained
But there are otherso minor Importance, which ought
not however. tobc overlooked IN taking this survey OF
their labors. Among these aTe
LIST The Limitation OF the iranking privilege. Former.
all the departments in Washington used to frank their
letters and documents 10 any extent; now They are mi.
ted official business, and Tor this certain amount 10
paid to The Post Office Department
ID. Posmasters restricted from Thanking letters,
except on official business. and where the income OF The
nli Dunft In Un drpdd
This prevents banks and large ms and establishments
from using the post Office Tor their benefit, and de-
frauding the department OF the postage.
81 The reduction OF postage on transient newspapers
from three 10 cent and halt IL owing TO The
exerlions OF the friends Of cheap postage This was
grieyous tax upon know ledge.
4h The delivery Of letters by the letter carriers for
cent instead of two may be attributed TO the friends Of
postal reform, who are aborng for The delivery OF letters
pense In Of the cities, the order OF the Postmaster
General to charge but cent has been strictly complied
with but in New York and Philadelphia the carriers
still receive two cents each letter. and in the latter city
the carriers actually refused to deliver any letters unless
they were paid fco cents. There responsible men,
both in New York and Philadelphia, who are ready 10
contract to deliver all letters iron the Post Once at one
cent EACH and to bring them TO the Post Oce ior the
maIs from any part Of the city for the same Will moi
the Postmaster General cause this subject to be inquired
into. and il he does not consent TO establish free deitu
cry, which much better that this order is executed
in all our large towns and cities
Some pretend that these reforms would have been ell
bur 10 this respect they much mistaken There was
here well in England, determined hostility on the
part OF the officials in the Poet Office Department
against any change In the rates OF postage Predictions
OF ruin in mouths OF all connected with the
Post Office, from the Postmaster General Wickhe down
10 The porter who sweeps out the Office Every wspaper
under the control OF the Department opposed to reduc
lion, and pamphlets issued, in which the friends OF
the measure were denounced smugglers," and that
only desired by bankers. merchants, brokers, and
spectators r.
Not single member OF the cabinet. II we except Mr.
Webster, in favor OF cheap postage, and Pres
dent Tyler himself considered the scheme Utopan;
ertheess 10 his honor be II mentioned, when Wcklie
and Spencer combined to get OF its advocates
moved from insignificant Office which he held, be
would not consent TO his removal. majority OF the
members OF Congress were either opposed or Indifferent
10 the subject
Will any one say that with such an opposition srrayed
against the reduction OF postage, il would have been
carried without strenuous exerons the part OF its
friends ROWLAND HILL.
The accounts OF the adaptation OF the soil and climate
OF California TO the employment OF slave labor
Trajectory that is impossible TO form rational opinion
on the subject At one OF the recent large meetings in
Mobile, Mr. A. &. Mckeen, who had Just returned from
the golden State, called upon TO give the result OF
his experience Ne stated that be was among others
from slsveholdng States who voted for the constitution
and we'll convinced were they Of the impracticabfy
ft.r. shSu. tor