The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-21
e Senate adjourned.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1851
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

On motion BY Mr. RUSK, the Senate proceeded TO the
consideration of the bill TO reduce the of postage
The amendment pending was that offered by Mr.. sew
yeserdayto reduce the single rate of letters TO two
cents, IN all cases prepaid
Mr. SEWARD Mr. President | will notice very
briefly the objections which have been made TO this
amendment understand to be the desire of the
mtees OF both houses of Congress and the general de-
sire OF Congress ITSELF to establish cheap postage,
and 10 secure TO the country the benefit OF system
OF cheap postage. have proposed the amendment for
the purpose OF carrying that intention into effect. do
not think that the system proposed by either OF the Two
houses would effect the object OF cheap posiage--cer.
tanly not the which is offered by the committee OF
the Senate proposing TO charge five cents for unpaid and
three for prepaid letters The postage which has
been adopted in Great Britain is cheap postage. II is a
postage OF two cents
The senator from New Jersey [Mr DAYroSl very
properly drew the attention of the Senate TO the fact that
the amendment which ! proposed would have the effect
OF giving 10 the people of the United States OF America
rate OF postage low that OF Great Britain and the
honorable senator thought IL was not possible, for the
that the distances the mails had to be transported
throughout this great country far exceeded those within
the limits OF the islands OF Great Britain But, sir, If
the senator had referred TO the fact OF the process OF
cheapening transportation by means OF steamboats, and
railroads every day, he would have found that
quite able afford the people of this country cheap
postage far the expenses OF transportation are con.
cerned, the government OF Great Britain is 10 afford
cheap postage TO the inhabitants OF her islands.
But there is another circumstance. The payers OF
postage in this country, in proportion TO the population,
exceed vast measure the payers OF postage in Great
Britain II the honorable senator will take the statistics
Of at least OF the United Kingdoms, portions OF the
United Kingdom, he will hnd that there is an amazing
number, proportion TO the population, who never trans
act any business which requires communications through
the mail and who, for want OF the ability to read and
write, unable TO employ these facilities The sys-
TEN which adopt, however, in order to be able TO
afford the result which desire must be one which re-
duces the expenses, TO within the reach OF
the great of the people OF the country; and think
that postage of two cents. while it will afford all the
required is completely within the reach, far
as ! is possible, OF the mass OF the people,
But the honorable senator from .Connectcuf Mr.
SNIrH asks where shall we find resources to supply the
deficiency OF revenue that will occurl He shows us
that the department has estimated the deficiency which
will ARISE If the House bill shall pass amounting 10
,250000 Tor the first year, and says that similar de-
hcency must exist greater one, if the amendment is
adopted which propose Now, sir, ! answer that we
shall find ultimately in the increase OF correspondence
consequent, upon the reduction of postage to such low
rate, And it is quite imma,eria TO this government
whether the Post Ofice Department runs In debt this
year million or even two millions OF dollars, and next
year lesser IT. in the end It shall be able TO redeem
itself, and pay of all the deficiency consequent on the
former reduction. That, think, will be the operation
have little faith The estimates OF departments made up
for like this because they are always made TO
accommodate certain system. The estimates are made
for the system and not The system for the estimates
But there Is another source from which the deficiency
will be supplied in large degree and that is the
trenchment OF the expenses OF the Post Office Department
The etrenchnen oil those expenses will consist in the
first place, the reduction OF the cost OF
OF The mails The mails OF the United Saies at this day
carry ing seveaty millions Of letters per annum and
of these seventy millions OF letters transported. twenty
two per cent dead letters and pay postage to the
government They cost -a2d part of the expenses OF
transportation, aad the government, loses all inat sun
Then the government o the United States sporting
poses Of correspondence. OF six hundred letters, lou
hundred and hfty-e'ght under one fourth OF NJ
ounce under tue present system, and only one hun
dfed ami loIy-two over one-fourth OF an ounce