The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-12

/ read in your paper few days since memorial
presented 70 Congress BY the Hon MI P1'lef chair
signed by Barnabas Bates, esq., OF New York. IN which
he offers in behalf OF himself and associates. to contract
carry the mails the existing routes throughout the
United States al the rate OF Two cents prepaid per hall
ounce and in the large TO deliver them to the c
zens their residences without extra charge to convey
newspapers. Periodicals. pamphlets. &c. at hslfhe Pres
emf rates and engages furnish each member OF Con-
xress twenty-five hundred stamps annnm, and offers
one million of dollars for contract OF ten yeas-gvins
satisfactory bonds for the faithful performance OF the
same.
On This important proposition wish to o6er few
marks, which deeply concerns the interest OF
From what know OF Mr.. Bates's character and eau
ous conduct and his experiences in the dea!ls OF post
Office business have no doubt that he has sati:hed HIM
At these low rates. and make money by IT, or he would
not have made the proposition II must be remembered
when MIR Bates embarked his energies in the cause
OF cheap postage. the Post Office Department was on
the verge Of bankruptcy. and his remedy reduction
OF the OF postage the only mode oil retrieving
lis financial position; and alter period OF hvs years
the law OF lS43 reducing the rates OF postage from
dollar per TO 1--WE and ten cents the single lei
ter, and hall ounce instead OF single piece OF pa
per- far from breaking down the par.me nj, - pre-
dc,ed by the opponents OF the measure. we Ind BY the
Postmaster Generals report balance OF one million one
hundred thousand dollars 10 the credit OF the Post Once
Department and this result whilst. in all the PRINCIPAL
cities and to and from their contiguous towns millions
of letters carried by private expresses because they
deliver the leers cheaper and quicker than the mails
the m1L facilities nave peen 20
new pos. Offices and TO have added half mil
lion OF dollars TO the item OF expenses.
There can be doubt that the proposition OF
Mr.. Bates would be practicable aud yield large
surplus profit TO the contractors. ii, therefore, he
undertakes TO carry letters al two cents per hall
once prepaid instead of five and ten uis, and
papers at half the present rates, surely the Post O
hce Department should do IT al those rates, or give the
contract TO responsible persons who will perform the
vice. The people understand their true interest and
have demanded cheap postage IL il to be supposed tina,
they will not expect Will they he content TO pay Tor
mail facilities only the full cost Of the service. but that
which while the present rates continued must yield
annually immense surplus revenue TO the Post Once
Department
AZ one OF the people, would say 10 Congress Give
us cheap postage through the Post Office Department. II
you prefer its pepeuty but. If not, then permit those
who will do il, either by contract with Mr. Bates, or
throw the business of carrying letters open 10 compet
ton. Mr.. Bates has been laboring many years 10 give
the people cheap postage. Through his unwearied Ell
forts the reduction to hve and cents effected IN
ls43 But, not satisfied with that, which the most
that could be effected at the time, he has diligently sboed
five years bring down postage 10 two prepaid
which he considers the point and, rs Congress
hesiaes, he offers TO perform the service himself His
plan is 10 reoHanze The whole system of the collection
OF postages the OF carrying and the delivery oil
letters and he offers security for its faithful performance
His plan comprehensive systematic, economical, and
ef6cient-such TO afford every portion OF the Union
equal facilities TO those successful operation In
Great Britain. He has been maturing II for yearsi and
whilst he would prefer he states, that Poet Office
Department should adopt it rather than private individ
surely ought to accord TO MIR Bates the prayer Of his
mortal, and thereby answer the petitions OF the people
who so unanimously demand cheap postage.
CITIZEN or NEW JERSEY.