Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-13
MIR. Gerry's Speech.

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MIR. Gerry Of this State, says the Age, made
an excellent speech on the cheap postage bill,
on the 4th ult., when that subject was before
the house of representatives. He opposed the
uniform rate of fve.cents on letters, as fixed
in the bill as originally reported, and indeed,
also, the principle of uniform rate without
regard to amount, as unequal and uni ust. He
insisted that while it might be proper enough
in country dcnsely populated like that of
Great Britain, where the facilities for transport
tation are great, and alike throughout its limits,
to adopt uniform rate Of postage. especial
ly as the difference in distance becomes imma-
tcrial in territory so small in area, yet In
country like ours, covering such vast extent
of territory, portions of which are sparseiy
populated, where the means for transportation
are so various, and the expense attending 1t so
unequal, distance becomes material and should
have its proper influence in the adoption OF
postal system. Mr.. G. said that the injustice
of the proposition to charge the same rate tor
carving letter five miles as five thousand, or
the same price from New York to Brooklyn as
from Maine to California, was so manifest, 1t
needed no elaboration to show 1t. lie went
FOR simple graduation of rates, to correspond,
in some degree to distance. He expressed
himself in favor of an amendment, (Which he
would offer at the appropriate time, if an op-
portunity should be afforded) to the effect
that on all letters transmitted through the
mail, and not weighing more than half an
ounce, and carried only five hundred miles
and less, shall be charged two cents postage !;
miles, and less than one thousand, shall be
charged five cents; and on all letters carried
over one thousand miles. and to any part of
the United States, shall be charged ten cents !;
and like additional sums for every additional
half ounce. or fractional part thereof. These
rates he was confident, would be satisfactory,
and would afford as great or greater amount
of revenue than the present, and would at the
same time obviate the objections that he had
already stated to uniform rate of five cents,
while it would, in great measure, secure the
benefits that would result from uniform rate
of two cents, and at the same time avoid its
inequalities.
Mr. G went into post Office statistics to show
that such reduction and graduation as he
proposed, would yield the necessary amount
of revenue for the support of the department,
and for the keeping up and prorer extension
of mail facilities. As TO the franking privi-
lege, if it stood in the way of the success of
his plan, he would either have it abolished or
put entirely upon The treasury. There were
some benefits to the people in the franking
privilege, but these benefits were by no means
mutually participated in by the whole people
Take for instance the patent Office report, or
any other bulky document. Every body
knew that these favors were limited to the ia
vored few. His doctrine was that all matt er
sent through the mail should pay something
that if it was not worth small tax, it could
not be worth the expense Of transmission
Adopt this principle and the department would
be self.sustaining establishment. In respect
to postage on newspapers, he was for rendering
to them all the facilities practicable, and should
consequently favor any reduction of rates on
them, consistent with wise aud judicious
posta. arrangement; but he could so for no
project which shall exempt either city or coun-
try papers from bearing their part of the COM
mon burden of sustaining the Department.
Mr.. g., in conclusion, said he preferred the
law as it stood, to uniform rate of FIVE cents,
on all letters, because he believed it would not
be a substantial reduction of the present rates.
1t would affect only small portion of the let
ters now sent through the mail; besides the
rate would be unequal and unjust, and would
not meet the wishes of the enlightened friends
Of cheap postage, as manifested in their petit
lions to the national legislature.