The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-16

country the postboy was seldom seen This is as true
north as south OF Mason Dxons line-no graphea
exception TO this rule. Show me the " rural district
in which country newspapers are literally patron
lied and generally read. and will show You popu-
ation who think act, and judge for themselves. who
judge public and public correctly, and who
can tell whether the time OF members OF Congress has
been ed away in useless debate and in dodging close
votes or whether they have discharged their duties faith
fully to their constituents and TO their country My
Impressions OF the Importance of sustaining the press,
and more particularly the country press were early
when boy, living in the country on the farm OF my
father. that used to 60 out long distance on Wednes
s's s sy Tis s I'D s
e s:si u tssa a y adsSis s % IT,
TN 81 n s ays bss with
House are obliged TO confne their reading to news
papers; certainly am Why does the House vote
sss thirty dollars Tor
versation. If not in the course Of the debate
While | value the newspapers 80 highly, and am
anxious to secure for them comparatively free CIR
cuaton do not stand up apoogist for their lbels
for their recklessness for, times, they appear
utterly reckless. doubt If there is gentleman on
n floor who S has 70. s that
that no great good can be enjoyed without its alloy OF
evil. The tanning OF electricity, and the use OF it in
instant to all parts Of the counuy-l6e control Of the
tremendous power OF steam by which transported
this continent, almost with the swiftness of thought
are instances Of the o destructive agents for
ihe accomplishment OF great good TO mankind
am satisfied that for every evil inflicted on society
by the press, blessings innumerable flow from its
stence among US even in it's present condition No one
where than OF the newspapers published IN my dis
trct which, though inland has journals conducted
with much talent character and enterprise, any in
the countryand that too. under the great disadvantage
resulting from the interference OF the government in favor
of the better patronzed presses OF the large cities OF the
seabOard.
Much has been said of late about the franking
privilege ! think the term misnomer; Tor 1t is
anything but privilege, except TO the constituent.
am surs few members OF this House consider a
/" privilege" to be allowed 10 expend the sum OF
two hundred and fifty dollars Of his per diem during
single session for speeches. aud to devote one third
Of their time in trank'ng them throughout their DIS
trics. This is the members "frankng" privilege.
So with regard to the books published for distribution by
order Of Congress Who receives this benefit. or rather
who is benefited by this .'prvlege" Not the member
for he distributes them all to his constituents. Indeed,
know OF no direct benefit received by many con-
sttuences in the interior from the expenditure OF money
by this government. except the books. documents
and speeches received under the tranking privilege
sincerely desirous of acting in this matter ac-
cording TO the wishes OF my constituents, and have
no interest in it which is not theirs. Whether the pru-
tt<ge" is a privilege burden, it make but lit
tie difference to me, have not long to enjoy il or to
suffer under it. But have not received single pc
tton to abolish the irankiag privilege though many to
reduce the postage rates, suppose that am not acting
in hostility to their wishes. So far as my interest
is concerned il may not be inappropriate to quote
the remark made by a gentleman in the English
House of Commons, when the subject OF abolishing the
frankng privilege was under discussion there "As to
my notion, that honorable gentlemen should retain their
privilege under penny postage, they must have more
intense appreciation Of the value Of money and greater
disregard of the value OF me than can conceive, II
they insis upon IT,"
Ii is insisted by gentlemen who in favor Of abolish
ing the fanking privilege, that the revenue OF the de.
pament would thereby be increased, inasmuch AZ all
matter now franked would then pay for It's anspora
ton admit the correctness OF the argument provided
all franked would continue 10 pass through the
mails, but insist that the moment frankng is abolished
and anked matter required to be paid for at the usual
rates, that moment this very franked matter would a.
TO be transported through the mails, nasmuch
member would think OF burdenng his constituents
with documents upon which such large postage would be
chargeable.
From the best information have been able to procure
think that the treasury pays TO the Post Office Depart
msnt ample compensation for all service performed
by the department for all branches OF the government
The treasury pays annually to the department for
those services the OF two hundred thousand dollars
Suppose the frankng privilege entirely abolished, and
the government in all its branches compelled TO pay the
of postage individuals Does any one be-
leve that the department would realize the amount OF
two hundred thousand dollars ! do not. Again, sup
pose the ranking privilege abolished to-day would any
mail routes thereby be necessarily discontinued or the
expense thereof materially lessened think not Post
routes established for the purpose mostly OF trans
porting letters free matter is an incident and forms no
part OF the lnducement for establishing such routes
admit that if you should charge postage al present rates
upon public doc uments and free, this would
tensiby increase the revenues of the Post Office Depart.
ment but in reality you would gain nothing by the change
for, after all, the government would pay the post
aye upon this free matter, whereas now IT does no
more than pay it, the Post Office is but branch, in
fact of the Treasury Department insist, therefore,
that no better cheaper mode OF circulating information
among our constituents tsuch public documents as are
printed by order OF Congres has been brought forward
than the present mode OF doing IT, and agree fully IN the
state made in OF the publications that nave been
sent by postage association, that
The public documents published by order Of Congress
for information OF the people have been the sublrct OF
mnch c ensure which they do deserve IL will be z
bad day when Congress shall cease the circulation o ooc
utsty detais of the public business IL may De ha
has been but oil his congress
must be the only Judge. We must have documents pub
hshed. large ones, in large numbers"
has been aad that the frankng privilege the reduction
postages and freedom of would prevent the
department from sustaining itself This might be true
al st but in the end, lar experience has shown,
both in this country and in Great Britain, low postage
eventually increased the But suppose The de.
parneni could sustain itself, and should become
charge upon the treasury OF million annually doubt
whether that money could be iudcousy expended
in any other way We heard no complaint when it was
proposed to expend million OF dollars to build steam
shin or to spend from fifteen TO twenty millions oil dol
lars to purchase territory which we did not want, ana
which had done more loosen the bands OF this Union
than all other expenditures incurred since the organiza-
ton of the government Nothing said against the
support of the navy millions thrown away TO pay
Texas bonds; twelve millions OF dollars for the aGana
supper, OF our small army, which nearly million
for every thousand soldiers Oh, no this was all rgh
II sounded large" il was all about army, navy,
national honor" and all that sort OF thing But when we
come expend few dollars for books, and to send them
to the mechanics and farmers of the coun-
free o postage give them free spapers then