The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-21

which the correspondence Of Great Britain travels
as compared with the distances in this country would be
less than penny there. That system is confined TO Eng
land. Scotland and Ireland, and does not take il for
granted refer al all 10 the colonial possessions OF Great
Britain you therefore, take The English, and test this
bill by that standard YOU will find that three cents
lower rate OF postage here than that rate adopted Great
britain By the House bill three cents is TO be the uni
form rate OF postage, while in Great Britain, upon
paid letters, me price is sllll higher This accounts
therefore, perhaps. IN measure for the view which
has been taken by the department upon the proprey
OF raising The amount to be charged upon unpaid letters
II seems to me that there proprety in that view OF
the case. think should oe willing as a matter OF ex.
pertinent 10 vote for the bill OF the House But the
amendment which is offered by the senator from New
York strikes me as anomalous in all its aspects
His amendment is TO reduce the rate of postage To two
cents, uniform rate and in the event oi the~money
being paid, the letter is not to be carried II strikes
that there are reasons suggesting themselves to the mind
OF every man al the first blush why that amendment
should moi be adopted. Our business in our com
merca cities may soon adapt 10 any new rule
or new standard we may choose to lay down; bat the
great masses scattered through the extent OF thus great
country. will be long time before they will learn the
new law Besides sir, There is positive propreiy IN
permitting TO mail letter upon the busness OF
other individual giving that man, tor whose benefit The
e,,s snaed. the rkht OF paying the postage write
10 friend upon my business; that friend cannot answer
my letter unless orsooth, he pays the postage That Is
the mode in which the matter stands. No letter is
TO be carried, according 10 the senator from New York.
unless he who mails It pays the postage strikes me
that there obvious objections the adoption OF this
amendment. II is perfectly evident from our past expe
rence in thi matter that the business community will
soon adapt themselves to any rules think proper to lay
down. II, therefore, we adopt uniform system to charge
prepaid letters three cents and unpaid letters five cents,
the commercial community will soon conform to 1t.
Commercial men will very soon these stamps referred
to by the senator from Massachusetts We have seen
the result of this in recent change in the rates OF
postage. How many letters do receive that do
not come to US in an envelope? Yet five years ago.
such thing as an envelope considered something
OF luxury and arsocrdcy in correspondence, because
then paid for their letters by the piece But
as change was made in the rates, the whole business
portion OF the community conformed to at There
is not now perhaps one letter in dozen which does moi
come to us in two bits OF paperthe letter being and
the envelope the other If adopt this system OF per,
by The Pos, Office Department, the business of the
country will conform themselves to it,
There Is proprety, therefore, ii seems to me, IN pa
king distinction between cash payment and short
credit. That is system conforming TO The established
custom all over the world He who pays cash in ad-
gets his articles little cheaper than he who takes
vote cheerfuy tor the bill from the House. still have
objection to the amendment of the senator from Texas
that in the event OF the money not being prepaid there
will be little addition to the rate of postage. Two cents
is large addition. You will recollect 3lat we are
making great strike in this matter We are reducing
the Of postage half Instead of ten cents and
five cents, we bringing the rates down to three
cents. For single STEP il is wide one. We ought to
look into this matter, not hastily but carefully The bill
passed by the House will u1questonaby reduce the reve
nue. of the department very much; but still we may
adopt it, and conform ourselves the general views and
wishes Of the people at large for upon single subject
that as been presented for the consideration OF Congress
within the last few years has there been general
expression of popular sentiment in reference 10 the pro-
prey OF adopting II, as upon the subject OF cheap post
age. so, therefore, for it, with all my heart. But II
seems that the claim OF the senator from New York
or change which is almos, useless TO attempt
MIR. GWlN moved that the further consideration Of the
bill be postponed until to morrow IN order TO 10 into ex-
counted
On motion. the Senate adjourned.