The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-23


psnditure. | also opposed 10 the distinction mad
by The committee OF The Senate between prepayment an,
payment upon the receipt OF the letters. NJ
reason or justice Ia compelling man who receives let
Ter without his consent as very frequently happens,
pay two cents more than the person would have been
Obliged to pay who sends II 10 him Mympression is that
three cents uniform postage will satisfy the demands OF
The country and sustain the department That is proy
ded nthe bill OF the House | am also satisfied that
less ado pt The main features OF the bill sent to
from the House we shall be unable to get any cheap
postage at all this session But, without OBTAINING the
Senate any further ask that the question may be taken
Mr.. BELL Mr.. President. do not intend to trouble
The Senate with any rens&ks upon this subjects but il
seems to this proposition OF a nature that may de-
mand OF those who have any doubts upon the subject,
who not satisfied with the measure it pro-
posed either by the House bill or Senate bill, to make
some inquiry from those who better informed upon
the subject and to state their objections in such
ner that they may be answered. Now sir, the senator
from New Jersey Mr. NILLEkl states thai in his opin
ion. unless the Senate will conform The bill pretty nearly
10 the provisions OF the bill OF the House, there will be
no bill passed during this session. Or in other words,
that. unless we conform to the threecent rate recon-
mended BY the House shall have been spending our
time above'y for the last three days, and also
what future lme may consume in the consideration
OF this subject This Is quite important measure 10
the whole country IN any aspect IN which 1t may be
viewed, whether you take the amendment OF the com
mtee OF the Senate the bill from the House OF Rep
resentav,s. II il is not certain that either OF these
| measures will prevail really consuming great
deal oil time unnecessarily upon the minute details From
the indications Of this body, think may infer dis
Still. if It be true that the provisions of the House bill
alone can become law unless we adopt those proyls
IONS at once, we are spending time IN vain This IS no.
stage OF the session when afford to spend time
without probable calculation oil some positive and
! efficient result IN relation to any question:
! Now, want TO ask honorable members whether they
have been enabled during this short session to give due
consideration 10 this great change which is proposed to
be made IN postal arrangements--or rather not
much IN that as in the rates OF postage Either PROPOSE
! ton which is now before us--eitber the bill from the
House or the amendment from the Senate committeeas
understand il, is reduction about half of the
present rates. My honorable friend from Texas shakes
his head but take it that the calculation be
jecural 10 considerable extent The reduction TO three
cents will be reduction OF more than onehalf. do
no, mean OF the amount OF postage now paid upon the
letters that are sent tor any year, but speak OF the
probable amount OF posages which will be collected
der this new arrangement That practical question,
and is only be tested by experience repeat the in
qulry, however, Have the members of this body given
that consideration to this question which 1t demands
Does not propose too RADICAL too great reduction and
alteration in our present rates OF postage, 10 be ventured
upon and does II not involve results and consequences
which should demanl our serious co nslderation 1.-THE
condition OF The treasury, &C. among other things For
example, the bill OF the House proposes immediate
appropriation of 81 900 900 supply probable def
cencies. Now, lha, looks drech considerable de-
hciency. The honorable senator from Louisiana Mr..
SouLE has moved amendment, which has been
adopted which reduces that appropriation $500 But
all that IS conecural | appreheni that the honorable
senator from Texas has made very large allowances Tor
the increased correspondence OF the Countyboh the
business and social pondence-founded upon the
experience of Great Britain Mr.. RUsk shook his head
Now, am unfortunate IN not understanding The grounds
upon which he has made tins calculation in any contn-
gency think il must be very great to attempt 10
base our legislation in postal arrangements upon the
ton of the pos,ages Great Britain TO penny letter
for the whole OF Great Britain which ia not large
some of States and Territories, and which has
population of from 81 80 millions congregaed in
country of so 900 square miles or less
II safe 10 give any great weight British practice,
when our rates are TO operate upon million OF square
miles within the organized States and Territories and
perhaps in The whole territory of the United States il
may be 100000 square miles, with gross population OF
only 230oo,ooo speak ia round numbers. say It is
great error TO assume that the results OF such system
England be expected OF the proposed reduction in
this country. But do not 10 90 into that
want to call the attention of the Senate TO the question
whether il is the disposition OF this body TO pass either
Of those b!ls-o adopt either the proposition of the
House OF Representatives the amendment proposed BY
the Senate committee. believe no test question has
been taken and do not know certainly what the dlspo
stion OF the Senate observe from the tenor OF the
amendments offered here, Of which have been
adopted, that the general temper OF the Senate is in favor
OF some change in system oil postages. PROPOSE
ton is now before us 10 amend the Senate amendment
by reducing II TO uniform rate OF three cents, which Will
probably test that matter There sone few facts that
want information upon. will say, with regard to my
friend from Texas Mr RusK, that know the labor he
has bestowed upon Ibis subject. know the careful at
tenlon and revision that he in connex ion with the com
mttee OF which he ia chairman, has gwen 10 this sub
jec have great confidence in the practical good sense
of that honorable senator particularly and believe that
he IS lnst about as Hkely 10 come 10 SOUND concIu
sion any other individual But whole committee
may be greatly mistaken and misled upon question Of
this description am aware-and 1t is obvious and pal
pable-tha there are sections OF the Union IN which this
reduction will operate fayoaby than IN other sec
tions-l mean the large commercial and manufacturing
Districts the more densely populated States, and where
the population has already approached the maximum that
may be expected for considerable period OF time, and
as long have fresh lands in the Far West TO induce
emigration from these States. | should like TO know
fron the honorable senator from New York who sits to
my left MT SEwARD what proportion OF the population
of the State OF New York is congregated in the cities,
towns and villages,
! Nr SEWARD 1 will answer the honorable senator
that, nearly as can estimate il is abou, one-lhrd OF
| the whole.
Mr. BELL That is about 900 900 | should have
supposed however but for that answer that was more
considerable The city OF New York alone and It's envi
rons embrace 600 900 or 600, ! do not know
what the proportion in the State OF Massachusetts
is that is contained in the cities and villages, but
presume that it is quite large And so it with some
other States of the North and East. Now, no one can
doubt that population so peculiarly situated VIII be IN
favor OF the reduction OF postage 10 the lowest rates
But how is when you TO the large agricultural
and planting States Of the South and West, where the
population cong egaed in The cities and towns compara-
lively small-no ten per cent OF the whole populanon
The senator from New York has estimated the proportion
OF that population in New York to be third OF the
whole In some OF the States not five per cent. OF the
would operate favorably il would in those large
commercial and manufacturing States that are dotted over
with populous cities and towns.
Now have not been able TO give this subject that
examination that could wsh should like TO have my
friend from Texas give me some information upon this
matter understand that II is assumed that the effective
mail service OF the country has continued to increase
Tho pl nj hy tbp