Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-02-04
THE POSTAGE BILL.

Mr.. Rusk on Wednesday, from the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads, reported to the
Senate the House bill for the reduction of postage
and for the coinage of a three cent piece, with
sundrv important amendments. The most mate
rial of these are the following: Instead OF uni
form rate of three cents on all letters weighing
not more than half an ounce, the Senate COM
mttee propose three cents on such letters if pre-.
paid. and fue centsif not and five cents also for
every additional half ounce. Thesprovison that the
compensation of no postmaster shall be diminish
ed under the act is exscinded, and the Post Master
General is authorized in case of the reduction of
compensation, to make such additional compensa-
ton as be may deem proper, provided the addition
do not exceed the compensation for the year end
inc June 3Oth, 1851 The committee strike out
the provision that newspapers mailed and delivered
to subscribers, within 80 miles of tho place of
publication shall be free of postage. Newspapers
to be weighed in the dry state. Uncalled for let
tiers to remain six instead of two weeks before
being advertised and the charge for advertising to
be one cent instead of three for each letter. The
committee strike out the section for establishing
ing two sections to be added to the bill:
Be ittnrther enacted That from and after the pas.
sage of this act, all publishers Of pamphlets periodicals.
magazines and newspapers shall be allowed to inter-
change their publications recprocay free OF postage
Provided That such interchange shall be confined to
a single copy OF each publications. and provided also,
that said publishers may enclose in their publications bills
for subscriptions thereto without any additionl charge
Tor postage.
Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty OF
all postnasters all stamps attached to letters
prepayment of postage thereon be defaced passing
through their respective offices, in such manner
may be directed by Postmaster General, and any
postmaster who shall fail TO perform this duty, shall
be hued not less than hive, nor more than lty dollars
in the discretion OF the Postmaster General
We are glad that the committee propose to re-
tain the present system of allowing newspaper
exchanges to be free of postage. The change
proposed by the House bill would entail very
onerous tax on newspaper publishers which, could
not fail materially to diminish the value of their
Journals to the public If the "postage reform
ia dependent on such depreciation of the media
through which the people derive most of their
knowledge Of what concerns their government and
their interests of every kind, it had better be let
alone. We receveat the Times Office considera-
bly, more than one hundred papers, and there is
not one of them from which we do not sometimes |
obtain valuable matter tor the information OF en-
tertanment of our readers. Is it their interest !
that any of these 'rills should cease to pour its
tribute into the reservoir from which they take |
their draught. of the current history of the times?
The Winchester Vrginian, speaking of the de-
sructon of the residence ofthe Ri. Rev. Bishop
Meade, of Virginia, by fire, says
Al -
after the severe labor to which he devoted the
mild season of the year, in visiting the remotest
parts of his diocese, and performing Episcopal
rites. To one with his keen enjoyment of social
and home pleasures, 80 sudden an election from
cherished retreat and arrangement of his family
circle, in the dead of winter, must be no inconsd
cradle annoyance
MORE RuN.-The Charleston Courier amour
ces this melancholy fact:
SALE OF A RICE PLANTATIoN.-On the LIST
instant the rice plantation on the Cape Fear river,
a short distance above Wilmington, belonging to
the estate OF the late William B. Meares, was sold
atauction in this town for S25, 900. Mr.. Thomas
ID. Meares was the purchaser. The sale was on
a credit of one, two, three, and four years. The
plantation contains $50 acres 3a8 acres in tide
swamp, nearly the whole cultivation.
TEE SourH RuINED.-From the Greensboro tAla.1
Beacon we clip the following. 1t does not look like
rum The tact is, political speeches viii manure
and enoyate the worn soil ofCaro lima. Her popu
lation must abandon the exhausted soil and find farms
10 the new States with their fresh and robuctve soil
Hon Prices OF PRoPERTY.-Property of al most every
kind is commanding high prices in this section. Likely
negro men command 500 S 900 in cash, and from
q 900 to 81 100 twelve moths time; women and
boys in the same proportion Choice field hands have
hired for from 1925 to $3.50. Stock generally also
nnrr fodder nOrk &c, command unusually high pr