The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02
POSTAGE REFORM.
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of some remarks in the House on Cheap Postage,
expressed many just sentiments;
"There is no reason said he " that the Post
Office should be self-supporting institution. On
a former occasion | said that there was equal
reason why the army should support itself by
plumber, or the navy by piracy. repeat the re-
mark. The gallant navy protects our merchant
marine, which covers every sea with its canvass,
and our army, legitimately employed, protects our
people from foreign invasion, whilst the Post Offce
establishment with its facilities of communication,
bears home to the family of the sailor and soldier
the news of his being. Whilst the cruises
of the one and the marches Of the other are often
recorded in blood and present the annals OF de-
VISITATION, the messages Of the other unite hearts
thnt are distant and cherish the hottest sensibii
ties of our nature. Go to the sequestered noun
tain gorge, and enter the cabin which is seen in
some solitary cave mark the tear of JOY which
falls upon the letter held by female hand, who
deciphers by torch-light its badly-written lines,
and YOU will witness the outpourings of q moth
ers heart who learns that long-lost son, escaped
from the perils of land and sea, hastens to her
embrace. She will thank Heaven for the paternal
care of that Government which, in this instance,
at least has. like the dew of Heaven, refreshed
well the humble valley as the aspiring mountain
top Sir, no man in this House will dare to re-
fsss nail factsifies becasise the expenses exceed
like to see the man 80 daring as to make this dis
tinctiou between the rich and the poor. should,
however. be more astonished at his folly than
flied with admiration at his boldness. The peo--
ple have right to these means Of communication,
and Government dare not deny it to them. AS
soon would vote against the provision of regi-
ment to protect a frontier settlement because the
expense would exceed the value of the property
protected ms to deny the facilities Of mail to new
or sparsely settled community"
IF the navy could be made sef-sustaining in
stitution, it ought to be. IL any other branch Of
the Public Service could be made to pay its own
way, it should be- The Post Office Department
has generally sustained itself, and therefore we
expect that 1t shall continue to do so; but there
is no reason for requiring it to sustain itself ex-
cept its ability to do it,
Because it has paid it's own expenses, many
politicians have come to think that it is less
Governmental concern than other Departments
directly dependent upon the Treasury that it lie
in fact of no Importance except to those who use
it, especially to the trading community. Taking
even this narrow view Of the establishment, We
should be led to a very different conclusion from
that entertained by them. For who does not use
the Post Officer To whom are mail facilities
unimportantl They are as essential to the hap
piness of the humble homestead on the sesbosrd
whose children are seeking bread through the
prairies or forests Of the West as to the interests
of the wealthy Arm that depends for its prosperity
upon remittances from its distant customers
There is no one worthy of the name Of an Amer
loan citizen who does not find the Post Office ne
cessary to his comfort or interest 1t is branch
of the Public Service more beneficial to the Peo-
pie, perhaps, than any other Well may the
question, then, be repeated-why should 1t be
regarded as undeserving the support Of appropri-
ations from the General Treasury Why be re-
quired to sustain itself, unless 1t can be made to
do so without the slightest sbridgement OF it's
benefits
But. another all-important view Of this subject
seems to be entirely overlooked. How could this
Union be held together, how could the States be
| made acquainted with each other, how could the
concerns of political parties be safely managed, how
could there be the necessary diffusion Of political
| intelligence, how could we remain one people,
how could the authority Of the Federal Govern
ment be maintained, but for the regular, univer-
sal transmission of letters, newspapers and public
documents, throughout the States So long as
private enterprise is prohibited from the estab-
lishment Of mail facilities, the Post Office Depart
meut of the Government is absolutely necessary
to the accomplishment Of these great ends-all OF
them national and vital Aud yet Department
on which rest the existence and well-being Of the
Union, must be a self.sustaining concern! we
must not appropriate farthing for its support,
even when necessary, while we lay out without
grudeing half million of dollars to fit out sim
gle ship Of the line to cruise where no battles are
to be fought, no dangers encountered, no interests
protected, no blessings conferred. That Is no.
BILE outlay, worthy Of a Democratic Republic but
to expend few hundred thousand dollars for the
purpose Of extending necessary communication
and intelligence among the masses Of the People
at the very moment We are forbidding Private En-
terprise to supply our own lack Of service, is an
enormiiy not TO be tolerated The Post Office
must sustain itself!
We proceed on the assumption that the re-
form so much desired by the People would i'm
pose come charge on the Treasury Department
This might be so for time, but not long And
be II remembered, there is q surplus already to
the credit Of the Department Of near million Of
dollars, which would 20 far towards making up
the deficit that might follow a reduction Of rates
for two or three years.
That two cents, uniform rate, on letters weigh
ing not more than half an ounce, and prepaid In