The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-06


NJ, RIrEI introduced a bill 10 refund to the
state OF Michigan the amount Of money advanced
by her for the transportation OF toluh'eers uuiis
the late war with Mexico; winch was referred 70
the Committee ON Military Ahaifs'
LANDS roR RAILROAD PURPOSES.
Mr. YOUNG introduced bill granting guam
NV Of land to the State II Illinois 20 AID IN the
construction Of railroad from point near Ferro
Hauto, Indiana, 10 point at or near lihnolsto"n'
in IllnOls; which ~as recffeuto lht Noullihuec" h
Public Lands.
Mr.. THOMAS moved that the rules be suspended,
and that the House resolve itself into Committee
Of the Whole On the private calendar.
REpucriov ASp MODIFICATION OF POSTAGE.
Mr. POTTER moved that the rules be suspt nded,
and that the House receive itself into Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, with view
TO the consideration of the special order
The motion agreed to--Yeaa 10, nays o.
Mr. BURT was called to preside
The committee then proceeded TO the consdera-
zion Of the bill reduce and modify the rates OF
postage
floor said that he did not intend to enter into the
GENERAL discussion, but simply TO give notice OF an
amendment which he intended TO offer at the
proper time, when, if necessary, he should ex-
plain it,
The amendment read, TO the effect that
newspapers, pamphlets, and magazines, shall be
trans ported free of charge III the State IN which
they are published and beyond, "A half cent Tor one
ounce weight, less, and providing that mail ia
cities shall be increased without delay, whenever
MIR GERRY addressed the committee, and said
that he was opposed TO u uniform rate OF postage,
and particularly that of five cents He thought
that on a letter transmitted five hundred miles
or less there should be charge OF two cents
over five hundred, and not exceeding one thou
sand miles, five cents; over thousand miles,
and to any part of the country, ten cents. some
gentlemen had objected to portion OF the ex-
penses of the Department being thrown upon
The Treasury. But why should they be horror
struck at the result especially when they see
iii
convert and appropriate the treasure of the
United States for merely local purposes. For
instance, the public lands, from which revenue Is
derived, are appropriate for objects local IN their
character, and local in lue benefits 10 be derived
Why give away these with rush, and yet be
alarmed when II Is proposed by way oil experiment,
that the expenses OF the Department shall be
charge ON the Treasury when all receive the ben
efs derived from the mail service y proposition
is pending before Congress TO appropriate hun
dreds Of thousands OF dollars Tor the purpose OF I'M
proving rivers and harbors and lakes, which are
necessarily local in their nature He apprehended
and feared that it would meet with the appreciation
of majority of this House, and yet gentlemen are
alarmed lest few dollars should be expended for
the benefit OF the entire people, without distinction
of party or interests He was not prepared To say
whether he would abolish the Thanking privilege or
not. 1t was matter OF indifference to HIM. Ger
tain il Is however, that portion OF the people do
not ENJOY II, and never receive documents through
the n.il- from members of Congress, or any others,
Under the ranking privilege, while they, at the
same time, taxed 10 such amount as ID neccssa-
~ III order transmit matter 10 those who do. IL
benefits many, but much trash Is through
the mails Tor no other purpose than To tickle
the constituency, without benefit 70 them. This
matter should 90 free, and therefore reason
able tax should be imposed ON every thing trans-
nittcd through the mails, If II bc only one inllI.
Take the Patent Oifle report and the documents
i,riutsd by order OF the House. Every intelligent
person cannot receive a copy OF them. They are
necessarily sent to certain individuals who receive
the benefit OF them. Why, then, should those who
do enjoy this favor, contribute to the payment
Of the taxi Then there is another cass OF matter,
such as speeches and newspapers whether print
ed by Congress not, some ot il is perfect nu
sance and ought never to be sent free; therefore,
he for putting tax on IT. He preferred the
prcsc postal system to uniform rate of hive cents;
because, if this reduction and modification only
should now be made, the great reform sought would
be delayed
Mr. WATKINS gave notice of an amendment
which he intended to offer, namely ;hat
papers circulated within fifty miles OF their place
of publication shall be transmitted postage free,
and THAI all laws requiring the Postmaster Gen
eral to diminish or discontinue routes IN certain
contingencies be repealed. He said that he should
be pleased to support the recommendation OF
the President andthe Postmaster General and the
proposition introduced by the intelligent chair
man of the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads but due regard to the interests OF his
constituents would not permit him to vote for the
bill In its present form. he doubted whether the
proposed reduction OF the ratee OF postage would
enable the Department to support itself II so,
why did the committee recommend that an appro-
10 meet apprehended Deficiencies in the revenue
in consequence OF the law OF ls45, the mail service
ia his district curtailed II the present sys
TEN he continued, the Department must be thrown
upon the Treasury, the ranking privilege must
be abolished, 10 both OF which propositions he was
opposed. The ranking privilege was the cheapest
an. most direct medium through which the constt
uency obtain iniornlaticn+ he could not disguise
the fact and daily experience confirms it. that the
perpetuIty of this country ls to be- maintained by
and through the intelligence, virtue, and patriot
Il nj u Il5 an
there ls no better way to subsefve this than by III
rect information through their representatives.
Some tirne prior the lettings, last April, nc had
in vain urged on the Poet Office Department to Ia
ciitate mail facilities several important routes,
extending through wealthy and populous parts OF
the country, connecting Iennezsee with portions OF
Kentuc ky, Virginia. and North Carolina. Nothing
was accomplished by him, but, on the contrary.
there was depression Of the grade OF service.
Therefore, he unwilling 10 vote for any inca
sure which would have a tendency TO curtail still
further the mail facilities He not opposed to
reforms, but nwilling to the commercial
portion OF the country benfted at the expense OF
the agricultural which would be the effect of the
bill now under consideration, unless 1t should be
materially amended.
Mr. sWEETSER was understood to say that the
whole country so FAR he knew were satisfied with
the present rates. Gentlemen had remarked that
there was at present simultaneous movement every
where for reduced rates; bot, without gong further
he ventured assert that all the petitions the sub
icct enlanated from common origin. He was
surprised that his colleague (Mr. PorTER) was so
Thoroughly imbued with the desire for reduced post
age "a TO appeal not only to the House but TO his
colleagues, to stand 10y him. He repeated, that
these petitions emanatcd from the source,
and that hired agents of the scheme were busIly
engaged in pressing it, lie was astoniahed that
his colleague was blinded by the influence brought
s. bear upon him. The bill was intended to reduce
postage 80 low to make the Post Office Depart
charge the treasury of the country. And
tue gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.. FowLER)
talked about the revenue point of postage being
fixed attwo ccnts.
MIR. POTTER said that be wished the money
paid into the treasury by the Poet Office Depart
nent TO be refunded, in order To meet any def
cheney which may arise IN the event of reduction
OF postage, and To prevent maj facilities from be-
ing cut off However, he did not apprehend a cur.
tailInent IN this respect.
Mr.. FOWLER remarked that the gentleman re.
fcrred to him when he spoke about two ccuts as
the revenue point. Did he understand when |
took that ground, that referred to the in
the long run; lido not apprehend that it would be
the case the first year, but in series OF years we