Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-30
Mem OriAO,

To fhc Honorab/e The Senaie and House
NJ Representatives. IF The u. States:
The undersigned inhabitants Of
county. in the State Of Indiana, would
respectfully represent TO your honorable
bodies. that the publishing of newspapers
is branch of business, which in their
opinion. is as much entitled to a fair share
Of the protecting care Of the government
as any other branch OF industry; that
under the operation of the presen, laws
regulating postage on Newspapers. that
business is greatly injured and depressed
in consequence Of the unequal burdens il
is required to bear, and the unjust tax i is
compelled to pay. They therefore earn
esily petition for the RESERVATION Of that
provision Of the law Of l345, which grant
ed a free circulation to all papers for 80
miles from the place Of publication. or for
what they consider its equivalent. a free
circulation throughout the counties in
which papers are published.
Many reasons might be given why the
prayer Of the petitions should be granted.
among which they consider the following
as sufficient:
First. The Act Of Congress Of 1916,
which introduced and established the pre-
sent cheap postage system, granted as a
Just portion Of that system, the free Cir
culation now asked to be restored. 1t
was merely just, both to the publishers
concerned. and the people; and as such.
met with universal appreciation. as prom
incnt provision not 10 be changed. sooner
than tho old rates Of postage on letters
would be restored.
Second, That from some cause never
explained. that section. and that only of
the law Of l845. which granted the free
circulation. was in manner equally sud
den and mysterious, without a petition
from the people. or suggestion from the
Post Office Department looking to that
object, repealed on the Sd of March l347;
thus in an hour most unexpected, taking
away from newspapers all benefits Of the
cheap postage system, placing them in
the attitude Of prescribed class, to be
summarily denied the privileges granted
to others and subjecting them again to
rates as high as have been known since
the existence Of the government.
Third. That in regard to the general
pledge or guarantee given by the act of
I845, that papers should enjoy the privi-
lege OF a free circulation permanently.
many newspapers were established. and
existing papers enlarged and improved, in
order to secure the advantages Of that act,
and extend them to the people, when by
the repeal, all the promised benefits were
taken away, and serious injury inflicted
upon them.
Fourth, That as the business Of pub
fishing newspapers is an established
branch Of industry, well understood
throughout the country, to subject that to
the operation Of unequal laws, is to intro
duce a system which should have no
countenance among a free people. or their
representatives.; that local postage operates
as a direct tax upon that business, and
that all taxes should be regulated to bear
a Just proportion to the benefits enjoyed.
and the expenses incurred in comforting
such benefits; and that, therefore to tax
papers for the privilege Of circulation
throughout q county. as much as through
out a State. is to establish system so
unjust and oppressive, and so much at
war with every principle of legislation
heretofore known in our government. that
quiet submission to it cannot be expected
while tho right Of petition and remon-
STRANGE remains, and appeals C an be made
to the representatives Of the States and
people ofrelief.