Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

wnicn provided Is now IN successful operation Under
this arrangement the postage single letter romsany
point in the United States any point in Canada Is ten
cents, orsixpence of Canada crencyexcept where the
letter is tobe transmitted 900 miles from the boun-
dairy line at the point Of crossing when single rate
postage Is fifteen centspayabe in either country CO.
py Of this agreement is hereto annexed. 3.
An agreement of similar character has been made
with the Post Office Department of New Brunswick en-
bracng In Its provisions Cape Breton Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland. ,h9W
Looking to the eventual establishment of a mail line
between California and China, via the Sandwich Islands
the postmaster Of San Francisco some months since
instructed to make up and forward by every Convenient
opportunity all letters for those distant countries where
the inland postage to the San Francisco office was pre-
paid.
Under provision in the second section of the postage
act of last session. order made by the advice and
consent OF the President and went into effect ON the first
Of July last establishing two cents the rate be
charged on each newspaper mot passing through Great
Britain mailed Ia the United States for received from
any foreign country other than the British North Ameri-
can provinces, and the West Coast of South America
where different rates found applicable and diff
ferent arrangements made two cents for
United states postage newspapers transmitted between
the United States and Great Britain had been already
fixed by the existing postal treaty wh that country
This order was considered advisable only in view o
the desired postal arrangements with France Prussia
and Belgium, but also of having, far practicable
simple ana uniform rates Of newspaper postage between
the Unitel States and the States of Western Europe
The postal convention with Prussia which has for NANNY
months been ready for signature, soon as reduced
rate Of transit postage should be consented by the Br
fish Government is still unsigned in consequence of the
nlureof negotiations with Greas Britain for the adoption
of satisfactory rates of transit postage letens passing
through that kingdom to countries beyond For the
reason the negotiations with France for silar postal
arrangement have not been pressed to final conclusion
and pending proposal for postal convention with Bel
GUM in conexion with proposition for the establish
ment3o line of mail steamers to Antwerp, has been
postponed for future consideration
The renewed determination Of Great Britain to insist
upon transit rate on letters passing through England
which is deemed excessive is subject of regret By the
postal treaty of December lS48 this Government made
highlyfayorable to Great Britain, but / con-
strained to say that in my Judgment, the liberal spirit
then manifested by the United States has not been
reciprocated The treaty provided that the British
Government might send letters in closed mails through
the United States (mostly by the way of New York
Boston,, to- their North American Provinces, at twelve
and half cents the ounce, which deemed equiva-
lent to only one-haf the rate then paid by c
zens on letters conveyed the distance.
This provision conceded although the transit
ON letters passing through England their way from
to this country were left Temporarily then sup
posed to be determined by the British post Office except
that they we're not to exceed the rates which that Office
then charged should thereafter charge, upon letters
from British colonies possessions foreign countries
passing through England in like manner: and although it
was known that the rates usually charged being different
in respect to letters addressed to different countries
ragged about thirty cents the ounce.
1t was then expected that this arrangement in respect
the transit rates of the two countries would be speedily
superseded by in accordance with the views Of
mutual benefit and accommodation entertained by this
Government and to that end the following provision
inserted in the 18th article Of the treaty:
But the contracting parties agree to invite France
enter into communication with them without loss of me in
effect such for the conveyance letters
and newspapers and closed mails through the Territories the
United States of the United Kingdom and Of France repee
lively be most conducive to the interests of the three
countries"
Negotiations between the three countries on this sub
of
snt arrangement deemed fair and reasonable I'M
Il France has at length consented separate arrange
nent with Great Britain reducing the transit rate on let
rs passing through that country from and to France from
thirty to twenty -four cents the ounce.
The rate insisted upon the basis of an
raagement with this country but deemed excessive
gnd has not been assented to. at s sS
Our convention with Great Britain can be annullcd b,
either Of the two Governments after years notice
the oher and If satisfactory transit rates be not
agreed to- this Government should seriously consider
whether the notice provided for in the treaty shall not be
| given.
1t IL well known that vessels from foreign ports con-
tnualy bring into this country large numbers of letters
which delivered into the post offices of the ports
arrival as required by law. In steamers running on
the routes from New York and New Orleans San Fran
CISCO Including the mail steamers under contract
with the United States large numbers of letters
tnuay sent by express companies and the authority
vested In this Department and its officers is insufficient
prevents it, The evil is Of such magnitude, and bears
SO helvy upon the revenues of the Department that is
subject be carefully revised 1t is suggested that be
made highly penal for express companies, their agents.
other persons to carry letters these routes outside
Of the mails and that it be made the especial duty of all
officers of the customs and all special agents of the Post
Office Department to examine board vessels, their
arrival all packages which they shall have good
to believe contain letters and to seize the under
such restrictions and with such directions for their sub
sequent disposal as may be deemed expedient. The
master OF other officer in charge of such vessel
should also be required to make affidavit, before
such shall be permitted to break bulk make entry
in any port of the United States that he has, the best
his knowledge and belief delivered caused to be de-
vered the post office to such port all bags
packages parcels containing letters that board
such ship the time of its arrival except such letters
exempted by law In view of the present low rates
of postage the great expense Of maintaining these lines
of steamers, the comparatively small amount of postage
which will hereafter from them, and the with
which the present laws eyaded prompt and decisive
action is urgently recommended
The security of our mails requires that further provision
should be made to punish feons all persons who shall
steal or obtain by false pretences, knowingly and
lawfully make FORGE counterfeit any key suited to any
lock which has been shall be adopted by the Post Office
Department for use and which shall then be in use,
any Of the mails of the United States who shall have
in their possession any such mail key with the intent
lawfully improperly to use, SELL otherwise dispose
of the same; who being employed in the manufacture
of mail locks keys for the of the Department,
whether contractors otherwise shall deliver any
finished unfinished mail key mail lock- the interior
thereof person not duly authorized under the
hand Of the Postmaster General and the seal Of the De-
parment to receive the unless such be
gagged in the manufacture thereof in the autho
rized by the contract for such manufacture.
Most assuredy these locks and Keys should be protect
ed by provisions stringent and highly penal
ury notes any other public security The stealing of