The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-21

would not insist however in this bu usiness of reduc
on .nal tae revenue IN the very lst instance should DC
nave Teason'to believe that II Will become adequate
within any Reasonable period OF time might be prepared
by my friend from New York But am not prepared
TO agree TO this most reduction for do not
believe that the OF the department would be
adequate 10 support Tor years TO II is to be rec
olleced lha the present posages now ten cents Tor
any dsancs exceeding 800 miles, and hve cents IN all
sases where lhe distance is less II is now proposed 10
bring down the postage letters to the very low rate
OF two cent. ior all distances in the country. however
great including the transportation OF letters by land and
by seao comprehend the letters transmitted to oregon
and TO California, where, venture TO say, the actual
cost OF transportation would be altogether more than the
rate proposed BY my friend from New York.
we recur TO the report OF the Secretary OF the Treas
ury which now hold in my hand will find that Tor
the current sca year he estimates the dehclt IN the reve
OF the government at 1865 1896 l9 and to this he says
s 70 oe added the interest OF the stock 10 De issued " Ia
vor OF Texas, TO the amount all know, OF $4,000.
600; thus making the deficit Tor the next hscai year
amount to about 100000 Now, if pass the bill as
comes from the House, TO add another $l $780,
900 thus ms iug the deficit about $3.oOo0oc, And
venture to say that if pass the bh as II comes
the House Of Representatives, making these laad war
rants assgnabe that to be issued bounes TO those
who engaged in the foreign wars OF the country
since the commencement OF the present century,, we
shall lose every dollar of revenue that is to accrue from
the sales OF public lands, which in this report OF the Sec
reary OF the Treasury estimated for the next fiscal
year at about 81 100000. All that will be swept away
Then, if we pass the bill as it comes from the House.
|
half of dollars; and how much more Is to be added IN
the event OF passing the sweeping reduction OF the sena
tor from New York' do not believe lhe treasury IS IN
| condition 10 lussy this most enormous reduction OF
postage am in favor OF cheap postage am IN favor
OF considerable reduction but am IN favor OF proceed
ing with caution in this business OF reduction and making
this reduction further than the condition OF the treas
| uTy will authorize.
II seems to me- therefore, that the amendment pro-
posed by my friend from Texas is a ludclous and
proper measure Of eductonof three cents in all cases
where The postage prepaid and live cents where is
not prepaid making the distinction, however, between
the United States where the mail Is transported by land
altogether and where transported in part by and
through foreign counries IN other words, requiring
addition OF postage IN the case OF Oregon and Gal
iiona, consideration OF the very great expense which
the government is obliged TO incur IN order TO perform
this service between these States and other sections OF
the Union
1t would seem to me, therefore, that the amendment OF
my friend from Texas is a judIcous amendnen-hat It
safe and proper amendment No appropriation Will
be necessary as the revenue OF that VIII prop
ably be adequate to The expenses thereof. am
decidedly in favor OF H. and no, IN favor OF the b as
il came from the House-not in favor of the amendment
of the senator of New York
Mr. HAMLIN had made some Investigations upon
this subject and had prepared myself with certain hgures
which designed 10 have presented to the Senate, or
rather have stated to the Senae the conclusion which
drew from the facts which had collected. But 1t is
neither wise expeden, in my Judgment, TO address
the Senate this late hour OF The IN long speeches
iorego therefore. all the views which had proposed 10
present. and, inasmuch desire 10 vote tor The amend
of the senator from New York, desire to state
briefly the which will control my vote. am In
favor OF maintaining the Post Office Department. AS gen
era principle, separate branch OF the government,
from lis revenues would not iasten II upon the
treasury and make il dependant that department
that rule. would not shrink from imposing slight
burien temporarily upon the treasury Tor The reason that
my ludgmt nj, the department should pay for the ser
vice which they receive Until within few years past.
the that properly belongs 10 the general govern
men, has been transmitted through the Post Once De-
parmen, free OF expense. Now, IT is asking no inus.
lice OF the whole country that they should contribute 10
the support OF this department to the extent OF the post
aye OF the general government nor is asking any m
Justice that should ask them 10 pay for what they
have already received.
Memorials poured in here from every section OF
the country | do not know how numerous they may
be- do not know that the chairman OF the Com
mittee the Post Office and Post Roads could tell US
that They almost like the sands upon the sea
,hore They from saery hilltop; they come from
every valley and there is no subjec, upon which there
has been decided broad, aud so general an ex-
preston OF public sentiment, through the medium OF pc
ttions, that which relates to cheap postage IN my
opinion What have they asked They have asked,
believe almost uniformly Tor the rate OF two Cents pre-
paid postage. This bill provides nothing OF the kind
nothing but the rate of three cents prepaid and nve
cents upon unpaid letters Now, am 10 favor o adopt
iny the amendment which the senator from New York
has offered because believe that within very limited
period OF years it will yield revenue adequate TO the
support OF the Post Ohce Department
Now, have already stated to the Senate why be-
eve the treasury ought TO contribute 70 ins result,
limited extent, for temporary period ihnk The h's.
tory OF the penny post Great Britain should not be lost
upon us and that should not be alarmed have
their fears excited that to establish rate here
that will throw this department upon the treasury Tor
permanent location by rate OF postage as low here as
is in England Are not our mercantile community, are
not all classes OF community, competent as the
English take II Tor granted that they are vastly more
so and whatever true OF that system there IL more so
here The system that bas been found 10 work such
results there may be relied upon IN my opinion, with the
utmost safety here.
remember, and very well, sir the humble part took
in eTectng reduction of postage IN the other branch OF
the Legislature, when it reduced from the old TO the
present rates; and think may say truly that there was
precisely the state Of alarm then, the same fears
arising upon the minds OF those who called upon TO
act al that relation to the reduction OF postage,
tnat there is And what has that result proved
Why from of postage that did not furnish the reye
upon these Tor the past year Is true that me o
which The senator from Texas has introduced looks pro-
spectvely this very end and object that when these
rates postage and shall be found adequate 10
the suppor, OF the Department.
Mr. CHASE, lin his seat.) That is stricken out
Mf HAMLlN The senator from OHIO, who sits by
me- says that that clause stricken out, oil which TACT
not The bill, them stands without any dls
ere onay power being vested in the Postmaster General
Ii we establish the specified in this BILL my word
for IT, that you will have the same routine, the same pro-
cess to 20 again in relation 10 this whole matter
think that the public mind has settled down IN the belief
4hat II this system be supported IN Engand, can
be supported here and the evidence winch Is iuInshed
us relation 10 the reduction oil postage comes
with full force for further reduction at another ume
In my Judgment is vastly better at once, and by $50
gle rate, 10 establish that system which ls so mnch de
sired, and which think will be aglaed Tor uuti ls ac
compshed Ii s vastly better TO do II al once than to do
II AT different times and subject the whole legislation oil
the country to these periodical perpexes oy revising