The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-21

and one cent on drop letters 10 be delivered AZ the once
and pfoydes-at The suggestion OF Mr.. CALDWELL, Of
Kenucky-ihat il shall be the duty OF the Postmaster
General 10 establish new post Offices and place the mail
service on new maroues established. or that may here
after be established, IN the same manner as though this
| act bad not been passed) ifls
Mr.. CALDWELL. Of Kentucky, gave notice Of an
amendment, which was subsequently accepted mod
i6cation by Mr. PorrER to his own Ills as follows:
PROVIDED. That post Office la existence shall be
discontinued. nor shall the mail service maroue
consequence Of any Elimination Of tho that may
result IRON hlis act, A1d provided further That shall be
the duty Of Tue Postmaster General 10 establish new posi-
offices and place the mail service mairoutes eslab
shed that may hereafter be established. in the same
vidsd farther, That the compensation Of postmaster
shall DO diminished in consequence OF the passage Of this
Mr. MEADE gave notice that he intended to sfer the
following amendment;
Ii shall he the duty of the Postmaster General establish
post office on any established place desired
by the Inhabitants Of the neghbofhood Provided, There
be no post office within five miles OF the proposed ono
He said il very evident that reduction of post
age operated inurously TO any portion Of the community
sparsely populated. Letter writer's in the city will be
benefited But few letters written received by far
and planters, who feel but little interest in this sub
lsct They would as soon pay five or ten cents as not
because their postage amounts Tor each TO but trfe in
the Of year. He willing to adopt the five
eur,a the mail facilities. In consideration Of the bene
fits to to the densey settled portions OF the
try. il but just that corresponding benefit should
and hence he had offered the amendment
Mr.. CONGER remarked. it seemed to be conceded that
there should be reduction Of postage 10 the lowest
possible amount and the only difference is, what shall
be the extent The cry, rather opposition TO reduce
ton, was uttered former occasion. We heard il in
lsi5 when postage reduced to its present rates We
hear now. and he always expected TO hear II when
proposition to reduce postage was under consideration
Al that time gentlemen predicted that il the rates were
reduced TO what they now are the cost On The treasury
and the country would be increased, and yesterday
heard similar prediction made by the gentleman from
Ohio, Mr. CARTIER They say that further reduction
must the treasury, when experience has proven
that The reduction made in 1914 has enabled post office
facilities TO be increased and now in 1850, we have
large surplus revenue. He asked whether this eype-
renee should be disegarded He was IN favor OF uni
form rate Of CENTS for the that he confidently
believed this would be revenue rate He believed that
this would enable the department to sustain ITSELF and al
the same time give southern gentlemen and others the
facilities which the public interests demand. But in
should not, he frankly avowed he would be in favor
OF making up the deficiency from the treasury He then
proceeded 10 reply to gentlemen who had spoken of the
rural dsrcts and who did not seem to know the settled
convictions Of the people from whom they come Tens
memorials asking for reduction of postage. lie con.
tended that the farmers and aborers OF the country are
zealousy interested in the proposed reform, aud
pressed himself in favor OF discrimination in favor of
the country press that newspapers shall be circulated
free Of postage to actual subscribers within thiryfve
miles OF their place Of publication and he advocated the
i Mr.. CASEY intended to offer as an amendment the
| following:
P,oridea That no postage shall be charged on nsw'ps.
aa subscribers any pos, office within The congressional
districts or within thirty miles Of the place whee the
i may be printed and published.
His object in offering this amendment was to meet OBJ.
ectons which have been made against the free circua.
and this he did With regard 10 the general features Of
land [Mr. BowIrl that The rural districts would not
be benefited BY IT; and unless an amendment such as
that which be had suggested should be adopted, he
unf in tha hnnI
be reduced for the advantage OF the commercial interests
there ought TO be counterpart for that OF the agcultu
raj community in the free circulation Of newspapers and
he would say 10 the representatives from the rural dis
tricts that they should not permit this reform 60 with
out its Counterpart The only way to take both to.
gether and equality is but justice. And he would further
remark that the bill, as il came from the Committee
the Post Office and Post Roads and shall
receive his vote, unless there be added discrimination
the congressional Districts The county press should
not be broken down by the city papers He had nothing
TO against the character OF the latter be did not join
m denunciaons against them 10 corruption. SO far
as his State is concerned, he was constant reader
They pure and high toned in morals any pa
ers OF the country as general thing and he might say
as much for those OF the neighboring Atlantic States
Mr.. THURST0N earnestly objected TO that part OF the
bill which charges on letters TO the Pacific foar tnes and
on newspapers three times the rates exacted those
ceved by citizens IN other parts OF the country, living
anywhere this side of the Salt Lake and Santa Fe II
uniform rate be adopted. let apply to all alike II h,
ecied to the same laws, why should there Be this dis
tIncton He spoke in favor OF Uniform rate OF five
cent postage and showed that the line oil steamers be
tween New York and Chagres did moi nure 10 the ex
elusive benefit OF those residing the Pacific Goa IT. blu
10 the whole commercial class OF the United States.
MI. HEbARD was undetermined TO what SHOULD
be the extent OF the reduction OF postage He believed
however. that the country demanded reform and he wat
proceeding 10 explain an amendment with reference
the circulation Of newspapers, when be gave way for
motion that the COMMITTEES rise, which prevailed.
i ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI RAILROAD.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas asked and obtained leay
TO report bill granting the States OF Arkansas ans
Missouri the right OF way through, and portion OF. tn
public lands, Tor the construction OF railroad from 81
J, Louis, by the way OF Little Rock, TO The Mississippi
which was referred TO the Committee on Public Lands.
4 Mr. JOHNSON, OF Tennessee, asked leave 10 intro
duce bill 10 encourage agriculture, commerce, manu-
facturng and all other branches OF Industry by granting
OF the United States, homestead of one hundred am
sixty acres OF land out OF the public domain upon condi
ton OF occupancy and cultivation OF the for th
4 period herein assigned. fNH esa - #AT.
He said that IL his intention merely TO have ih
bill referred 10 the Committee Public Lands but OBJ
! lection was made TO It's Introduction. 1hn
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The SPEAKER laid before the House communica
ton from the War Department in reply TO resolution
adopted the 10Th instant, being the report OF the
OF General Patterson from Monterey 10 Victoria and
troops OF General Taylors army 10 Tampico. 1t
Also, report on the subject OF the coast survey
They laid the table, and ordered TO printed.
Aud the House adjourned
PRESENTED UNDER rHg RULE.
III. MIRA 1.-