The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-13
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, JANUARY IL, 1851
The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SECOND sEssIo

The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. DANIEL moved that the rules be suspended,
and that the House resolve itself into Committee
of the Whole on the private calendar.
MIR POTTER moved that the rules be suspended
and that the House resolve itself into Committee
Of the Whole the state of the Union the special
order-the Cheap Postage bill.
The SPEAKER laid before the House commu
nication from the Secretary of the Interior, in re-
ply TO a resolution of the House, enclosing the
port of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs relative
10 the Winnebago troubles in Minnesota during
the months of June and July last.
Mr.. PHELPS introduced bill granting the
right of way and making donation of public
lar dis to Missouri, to aid in the construction of
railroad from the western line OF that State TO
point the road leading from ST. Louis to Little
Rock; which was referred 10 the Committee on the
Public Lands.
REDUCTION OF THE RATES OF rosTATE.
The question was then taken on the motion of
Mr.. POTTER. and decided in the affirmative-ayes
~ noes co; 50 the House resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole the State of the Union, and
resumed the consideration of the bill to reduce and
modify the rates of postage.
Mr.. PHELPS, who was entitled 10 the floor, said
that, in consequence of ndspostion, he did not
feel like making speech at this time. Under these
circumstances he desired that the matter be post
poned until come day next week-it being the first
special order coming up.
MIR DANIEL said, il the gentleman would give
way, ne would move that the committee rise, with
a view Of proceeding TO the consideration of private
bills
The question was taken, and decided in the mega
tive-ayes 40, noes counted.
Mr. Phelps said that he felt himself compelled
TO enter on the discussion from the fact that he
member OF the committee which reported the
bill; and that he concurred in the rates of letter
postage recommended by it, (viz. three cents, pre-
paid and FIVE cents If not prepaid.) The measure
had been assailed and it urged that if it should
become law, the support of the Post Office De
partment would be fastened on the Treasury; that
the Department would become bankrupt, and that
the mail facilities throughout the Union, partcu-
larly in the southern and southwestern States,
would be curtailed. He then proceeded 10 show
that the proposed by the committee would not
have those effects He enumerated the various
amendments proposed, and said that he was opposed
the conveyance of newspapers free OF postage.
He referred statistics to show that If uniform
rate of five for letter postage be established,
the revenue will be diminished, because induce
rnents will not be held out TO those who write let
tiers to increase their number. Only about one
fourth of the letters by mail pay post
age. He was opposed to the two cent rate pro-
posed, because it would pension the Post Office De
partment on the Treasury He believed that three
cents prepaid and five cents unpaid on letter,
would after the first year, enable the Post Office
Department to sustain itself. He explained
amendment which he intended to offer, by which
there would be a savin. of money to the Depart
ment reducing the compensation Tor railroad ser,
Mr.. MATTESON said, that while gentlemen
discussing the abstract proposition, the people
of all sections of the country asking for reduc-
tion of postage letters. The tables OF me.nbers
grooming with petitions asking for the enact
ment of such measure. He held in his hand the
resolutions of the Legislature of NewsYors passed
during its last session, this subject. He would
net read them Ii was enough to say that all class
es in the district of country from which he came,
were in favor of reduction Of postage If gentle
men supposed that those petitions emanated from
any city-New York, o any other-they mis-
took. lie intended to propose amendments, which
he explained, (to benefit the country prcss, etc.,)
and was adverse to the abolition Of the Thanking
privilege which he considered fran king burden.
Opposition was made to a reduction of postage on
the ground that the Post Office Department would
thereby be thrown upon the Treasury. Each thou
sand men IN the army cost one million OF dollars
year. He did not say that this wrong; but,
while gentlemen were voting money to support the
army, let them not forbear reducing the postage,
demanded by their constituents. As 10 the rates of
postage, he would repeat what had been said by
others--if he could not succeed in obtaining such
he desired he would take the best he could get.
MIR. DUNHAM said, that petitions asking for
a reduction of postage stereotyped, and fine
calculations were made as to the success of
duction of the rates OF postage If all those could
be realized, doubt all the people would be in ia
vor oft He not disposed to believe the state
Inents as correct, and to be relied on. The exam
pie of England criterion by which the
United States should be governed. The mails in
that country not carried over fifth the dis
lance which ours are. 1t struck him that the great
error in the legislation Of this country ia, go
too much to England for principles Of political
economy, and the examples by which we should
govern ourselves. Her principles are different
She stands the principle that the people have no
natural power in the government; stand on the
basis that the people the source Of powers. Our
people and business different from those of Eu.
rope. He hoped that the time would come when
American statesmen will, as their government
struck out, experiment their own hook, and
govern themselves, not according to the political
economy OF Europe, but the policy and character Of
our people and own government He
opposed the abolition oil the ranking privilege,
and said that there more propriety in paving
for the transmission Of the free matter out Of the
Post Office revenues than from the Treasury. He
opposed any thing which would have the effect of
curtsng the mail facilities in the sparsely settled
portions of the country. The great post otiices
could take care of themselves. He was in favor Of
reducing the postage 70 uniform rate of fine
II this succeeds, we can reduce lower by degrees
II We reduce 20 two cents and this fail to support
the Department, cannot get back TO a higher
rate, because there are too many demagogues who
can make more direct appeal 70 the people, when
they pay but little postage, and the demagogues
know 1t.
Mr. CRoWELL gave notice of amendment
Mr. PHELPS, by permission Of Mr.. POTTER, who
was entitled 70 the floor, made a few explanations
touching points in his speech delivered at former
period of the day.
Mr.. DUER to address the committee but,
without proceeding, gave way for a motion TO ad
journ, which prevailed.
The followingis the Commandment which Mr.. WEST
WORTH intends offer 10 the bill for the reduction
of the rates Of postage, viz:
Whenever any person shall exhibit 70 any post
master satisfactory evidence that he has paid one
years subscription to any newspaper Of less dirnen
sion than 800 square inches, he shall be entitled,
if paid before his receipt Of the first number, TO
ceive such paper at the rate Of fifty cents per an
NUN for each paper per week, when printed with d.
out his State; Of twenty five cents when printed
within his State, and Of ten cents when printed
within his own county; and this provision is
ended " newspapers Of greater dimension than