Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-03-23
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TUESDAY MARCH 80, 1852.
Cheap Ocean Postage.

In the United States Senate, on the 9th inst, the
following resolution was proposed by Hon. Charles
Sumner, and agreed to-
OiUed,-That the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads be directed to inquire whether the
present charges on letters carried by the ocean
steamers are not unnecessarily large and burdensome
to foreign correspondence, and whether something
may not be done and, fso, what to the great
boon OF cheap ocean postage.
MIR. Sumner wishes the Senate TO ascertain if let
tiers can be carried across the ocean at less than the
present enormous rates. which twenty-four cents
for half an ounce, forty-eight cents for over half an
ounce and less than an ounce, and nnety-six cents
for fraction more than ounce. In the event of
the Committee reporting avorably, it will then be
incumbent on our government to make such repre-
sensations to foreign governments will induce them
to cooperate in the reduction of those rates
Our government pays the steamers certain sum
for carrying the mails, no matter whether the
bags be fall or almost empty; that the ocean
charges are uniform, however the number of letters
may Aactuate.
II, therefore, reduced rate were TO increase the
mail freight it would not increase the present ex-
pense of transit. If we afford to carry letter
hHSc tiOuSdilu inilcss luls CoHGueHt, lOE
three cents, it certainly does not require twenty
one cents additional to defray the expense of carry
ing it from the coast, to Liverpool or Havre. We
are certain the government does contemplate
deriving revenue from enormous export tariff on
the letters of poor immigrants, and yet the high
OF ocean postage seem TO warrant The assumption
that it does.
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this American idea of Cheap Ocean Postage, in
Great Britain; and the utmost enthusiasm and SYM
patty is there manifested for Ocean Penny Postage.
He visited many Of the great cities in February last
andis still agitating the subject in England and Scot
land Al the great meetings which we're convened
to hear him, show Of hands was always called for,
Of those who had friends and relations living in the
United States and British colonies. and almost all
ways two-hirds of those in the meetings responded
to the call. We are confident that the British gov
eminent would not refuse to cooperate with our gov
ernment in this matter They would be glad OF the
chance, at The present time, we believe, to strength
en- the bonds of amy by such an act
y This, however, is not question exclusively of
cheap postage for the five millions Of immigrants,
and their immediate descendants, in this country;
it is question which also interests our merchants,
scientific bodies, religious societies and col
leges, United to Great Britain by community of
language, religion, and scientific and literary pur.
suits, our counrymen, both corporatey and individ
uay, have been led into intimate relationships with
kindred spirits the ocean, upon their intercourse
with whom, the enormous rates of postage fall like
dead weights. Perhaps no man knows better than
Charles Sumner, that Cheap Ocean Postage would
be great boon to the American republic of letters,
as well as to those poor peobe whom it might more
Immediately benefit, and we confidently hope that
good results will follow his motion in the Senate on
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