The New York herald., 1851-11-19
Cheap Pos taSs Meeting.

The advocates OF cheap poseege held meeting 81 the
Asrcbapts Exehange ysstseday Afternoon the object
Of the meeting stated in the call 20 take into
confederation thu rates Of postage newspapers psrio
deals pamphlets, and other printed matter imposed by
the act Of March, 1851 and to petition Congress to mcd
fy them that the rates nay be simple uniform and
cheap The meeting called toi O'clock bat dc
not organize TIL hall hour after tina. line wrer
motion
En- Mayer JANIS HAKTtR was appointed President
The follow ing gent named Vice. Presidents
fIsncis Hall, Gerard Halock, William g. Bryant, Ho-
Greeley, George p. Putnam chsles L. Francis, VIII
liam II. Appleton, Leonard Scott, freeman Hun., J. r.
Swerds The following persons appointed eecrets
riee:-Ersstus Brooks Hiram Fuller Henry j. Raymond
Aimed Beach, j. stringer, Anson Herrica, J. "a ime
William Radde II. wilson, L. P. Williams, A J. VIII
After the meeting fully organized, and The s.li
read, Mr. BAksAsAs Bates cawe forward anG read tie
following resolutions
Wneres. tbss been the pOlsy Congress sace sle ~.
s S1f sR n me s
ssEssen. with me ssIP0rs q ;as Pe.' once Ds.s.uea
Espspss sent free Of postsge afterwards sren
ts,sa with pgs..se; - has Teen comparatively a: low
And whereas AZ the sss session Congress departed from
which hks assd the postage Dewsrare:s psodicas
and Irnted matter 70 an ss'eL: which almost 70
persons are ab,sso
M much OF IS the ase On me-
periodicals and printed matter peculiarly eartsniOns
fusion Of knowledge through tie medSam OF tie press There
Resolved Ths. the rates Of pOs.ase on newspaps-s 1erO
deals pamphlets and all ether printed matter ssould be
shAtle has TO Pay ancso low thss the postage should act
Resolved That the postage on newspapers should not
essd unsrm rate G one cent S Of The unsn sd
allowing publishers who desire TO pIepay tie
1Sa. Rsa
to prepare BIN and petition IN conformity with thsss
to adopt such measures So they may deem xpedeE. s
sSs n sas
T1 The tss 5S e city Be sanssy
ana to their best exertns 20 effect the passage t
III s
Rsseived, That we recommend to fellow citizens.
ard especially TO puelis hers editors printer, in Other
prerare retions TO Congress- urging upon body
aon TO the postage newspapers periodicals. and printed
matter
Mr. Bates in advocating the adoption Of the resolu.
tichs saidIn oe, ing these resolutions for the conslde
ration Of this meeting beg the liberty of accompanying
them with few words Of explanation The constitution
post roads by the authority Of this grant they have
from time TO time, established certain roads post
pers The Postmaster General has power to establish
post ofces where the letters received and delivered
and he mails made up to be sent to other oices. Ia
the early part OF cur government. With view OF difus
sing intelligence throughout the different States
papers carried free OF postage aud every facility
given by mail carriers and post riders publishers
aud editors to circulate their publications. Until the
las Congress- it has been the wise policy OF egss-
tors to make the postage ON newspapers es low poss
BILE, that the cost Of postage should offer imped
ment to their circulation and that every family might
erjoy the privilege of knowing what was doing among
the nations the earth well by the Of
their own country. To the press more than to any
other the people Of this country indebted for
the knowledge enterprise and for which they
distinguished Hence any attempt to abridge or
ard the circulation OF newspapers and periodicals is felt
Immediately and sensiby than any which
could be adopted by Congress The act passed in March
last reduced the rates Of postage letters low that
letter be sent three thousand miles for three
cents and any part Of the Union for cents and the
California postage has been reduced from forty to six
cents yet sensitive the people upon the increased
tax newspapers and printed matter that they have
almost lost sight of the great tneGts derived from the
reduction Of postage on letters have been FREQ usnty
asked How came you, who have taken such active
passed" Ny reply to thi. viii be to give you brief
history Of the proceedings Of the committees aud Of
Congress in the pa'sase OF this act All here know
that for several years after the reduction OF post
age by the act Of ls45 the Cheap Postage Coz; ttee
Of this city urged upon Congress not only the reduction
Of letter and Newspaper postage bu. the free delivery
mail letters and the abolition Of the frsnking privilege
1t wss found however BY experience that the true
Of the association was to conne their efforts to one sin
gle object The reduction of postage inland let.
tiers Hence nearly all the petitions sent to Congress
,ked simply that the postage on etterd should be
duced TO uniform rate Of two cents pre- paid Nothing
was said Of newspapers periodicals. or pamphlets
posing that these would remain the same or, II any
change was made. 1t would be reduction in the same
ratio letter postage The reports of the committees
never at any time, contemplated the increase OF
sesion had not been forced upon them by the Post
Office Department. The following Is brief history Of
TIE Of the committees Of the last Congress
and the action Of Congress their reports Gen Rusk
the Sd Of April 1850 made very able report In favor
OF the reduction Of postage to two cents and the sbo
tion Of the frankng privilege The third section Of his
bill recommended that the postage on newspapers and
other printed matter should continue the same as at pre-
bound books to be carried on the prepayment Of
cne cent per ounce Judge Potter at the session
reported bill from the House Committee in which he
recommended a reduction of letter postage TO three
cents and newspapers Of one thousand nine hundred
square inches. to any part Of the United States
cent and in the State where published half cent and
inches pamphlets and periodicals two cents copy Of
no greater weight than one ounce and for every sdd
tonal ounce one cent bound books not weighing
ounces were 10 be carried at the same rate Mr.
Durkee 1T the session made very able minority re-
port, and proposed bill uniform rate Of
two cent? pre- paid and the postage newspapers for
any distance in the United States one cent and period
Gals and pamphlets, hall cent for each ounce aud the
same Tor every additional half ounce or fractional part
thereof Handbis and circulars to be charged letter
postage paid and ell newspapers not sent from the
ofce Of publication, one cent. prepaid Bound books
one cent ounce" This bill provided also That II
the publishers OF newspaper. peri siicals and psnp
cesred 70 prepay the postage, they 10 be allowed
d,count OF fifty per cent for ali such newspapers peri
odieals or pamphlets deposited and paid for" The bill
Of Mr.. Drrkse embraced the views of the New York
Cheap Postage Association and IL their wish that 1t
shculd pass the simple uniform, and cheap
No action taken upon either of these reports at this
session The association cauwl several thousands Of
Durse. report BE- printed and circulated throughout
the country Ia he hope that at the session bis bill
would adopted January IL 1851 Ia. House Of Reprssen
talivs after long debate passed bill hxng the postage
on letters at uniform rats Of three throughou
ths United states bach newspaper pamphlet period
icsl mss szine, book sai every other description Of
pinteo matter OF no greater weight than two
one cent and fer each additional ounce. cent?
Newspaper, delivered in the State where printed one
hail these rates in the country and thirty miles from
the place where prpted they to be delivered free
OF postage IL also allowed hy cent to be deducted
rom The Pestsse Of magazines when the postage shall
be prepaid This bill passed the House By Of 40
haf
passed the House General Rusk from the Senate Com
mtee rspcitsd 1t 20 the senate aud ordered TO
be pilnied On the 2oth OF January he again reported
the bill with amendmsnts the rates Of portage
papers aud perit dics being the The circulation
OF newspapers free Of postage and the discount allowed
upon magazines when prepaid struck cut. IL sp
that the passage of the House bill ani II. favors
ole reception by the senate Committee alarmed the Post
Once Department and every effort de 10 prevent
it passage through the Senate The department. proposed
substitute both for the House bill aud General Rusks
md be nrrraeI unnn 10 INFANT IN 10 the sanats