The daily union., 1852-03-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
REMARKS OF ma. SUMMER,
or MAssACHUsETTI


or MASSACHUSETTS,
Upon hs Resolution relation 10 Cheap Ocean Postage
deiipered ia he Senate Of The Uniied States Monday,
D1arch 8, 1852,
CHEAP OCEAN POSTAGE.
Mr. SUMNER. submit the following resolution
As 1t is one Of inquiry merely, ask that may be
sdered al this time:
Resolued. That the Committee on Naval Affairs while
g a nature and extent 81 aid proper 10 be granted
present charges for letters carried by these
unnecessarily large and budenome foreign correspond
encs ana whether something may not be done, and II
what to secure the great boon OF cheap postage
There being no objection, the question was stated to
be on the adoption OF the resolution
Mr. SUMNER. The Committee on Naval Affairs have
me responsibility oil shaping some by which the
relations oi our government with the ocean steamers will
be defined And since special inducement to these
relations, involving The bounty enjoyed and further
solicited, is the carrying of the mails, trust this commit
lee VIII be willing to inquire whether there cannot be
reduction on The postage OF foreign correspondence
Under the postage of 1851 The postmaster by and
with the advice Of the President. has power reduce
IRON time to time the rates OF postage all maiiable
egn country But the existence of this power in the
postmaster will not render it improper for the ee
now drawn into connexon with this question: TO take i
into careful consideration, with view TO some practical
action, or, al least recommendation thereon The sub
lect is of peculiar interest do know any measure so
easily accomplished, which promises to be 50 benecent
seems to me at once brief and unanswerable.
letter be sent three thousand miles in the United
States Tor three CENTS and the reasons for cheap postage
on the land are equally applicable TO the ocean.
In point OF fact, the conveyance OF letters can be
effected in sailing or seampackets at less cost than by
railway.
Besides cheap ocean postage will Tend TO supesede the
clandestne Illicit conveyance OF letters, and to bring
into the mails all mailable matter, which, under the
present SYSTEM carried in the pockets OF passengers
in The bales and boxes OF merchants.
All new facilities for correspondence naturally give
new expansion TO human nteTcourse and there is rea.
son 10 believe that through az increased number OF let
Cheap postal communication with foreign countries
will be of ncacuabe importance to the OF The
United States. A
By promoting the intercourse of families and friends
separated by the ocean, cheap postage will add 10 the
sum OF human happiness. #9s aat
The present high rates of npostagenamely, twen
yfour cents on half ounce foriyeght cents on an
ounce, and ninetysix cents letter which weighs
fraction more than an ounceare severe tax upon all,
particularly upon the poor amounting many to
complete prohibition of foreign correspondence This
should not be so.
1t particularly becomes country, by the removal OF
all unnecessary burdens upon foreign correspondence,
10 advance the comfort OF European emigrants seeking
home among us, and to destroy, far practicable,
every barrier to free intercourse between the Old World
and the New.
And lastly cheap ocean postage will be bond OF peace
among the nations oi the earth, and will extend good will
among men.
By such reasons this measure is commended Much
as rejoice in the American steamers, which vndicate
peaceful supremacy OF the and help to gold
en- tissue between the two cannot consider
alent for cheap postage But trust that they are
not inconsistent with each other and that both may hap
PLY flourish together.
Mr. RUSK / have no objection 10 the passage OF the
resolution but it involves inquiry the part OF the
Committee Naval Affairs, in relation 10 subject OF
which do not how they can take cognizance The
rates OF postage between this country and England
established by treaty arrangements altogether. ln Tea
ton to the enormous rates OF which the senator from
Massachusetts, speaks, would reply that they were re-
duced the last session OF Congress than half,
which was all we thought could reduce them.
Mr.. SUMNER. II will be observed, in the first place,
that the resolution is OF inquiry merely, and that
is directed 10 a committee which seems to me- under The
present circumstances TO be the most competent 10 enter
tain that inquiry for this that IL is specially
charged with review OF the relations between the gov
ernment OF the country and the steam packets,
their application for increased bounty desire that this
committee while considering this application, should IN
quire whether, by recommendation otherwise, they
may not do something TO promote cheap postage
II the committee find themselves unable 10 do anything
in this direction then the inquiry far they
cerned, ends IL may then TO some other committee
Before offering the resolution, conferred with al least
two members OF the Committee Naval Affairs, and
understood from them that the resolution would not be
unacceptable TO the committee. At the present moment,
while the question of bounty 10 the ocean steamers is
pending this seems TO be the committee 10 which be-
longs.
spoke 10 me this matter, did not at the time the
bearing OF il so well as see il now With my present
views think this is subject which should go to the
Committee on the Post OiBce and Post Roads
Mr.. BADGER. The Committee the Post Office,
think is the proper committee, II IS proper TO refer the
resolution 10 any committee at ALL certainly do not
think 1t should go TO the Committee Naval Affairs.
Perhaps the better way would be TO lay the resolution
on the table until the Senate have had time TO consider
what disposition they will make OF it, With that view,
therefore, move 10 lay on The table for the present
MIR DAVIS. Will the senator from North Carolina
withdraw that motion for moment
Mr.. BADGER. Certainly
Mr. DAVIS hope my colleague will permit this res
ouon to 30 to the Committee on the Post Oce and Post
Roads That is the proper committee, think to which
to refer it. My colleague will perceive that no change
be made in the postal arrangements by without
the part OF other governments-hat is,
that cannot diminish the rates OF postage from this
country unless such proposition is acceded 10 on the
other side, because IL would derange the whole system
IL will therefore be for The Post Ufce Committee 10 con-
slider whether any measures should be taken to effect
such an object
MIR SUMNER All that had in view when offered
the resolution was aware that the reduction OF post
age depended ultimately upon treaty stipulahons. did
suppose however that committee oil this body, having
the subject in hand, might by Recommendation, al least
take some steps to promote that object Perhaps will
facilitate correct understanding OF the question il the
resolution is read again, and would ask that this may
be done.
The resolution accordingly read.
Mr. SEWARD. | ask the senator from Massacbu-
sets Mr SUMsERl whether this subject, which certainly
is very important and interesting one, would not more
properly be referred to the COMMITTEES on Foreign Rela
tionsi The COMMITTEE on Naval Affairs is burdened
with very extensive business not closely connected
with this while Il addresses itself legihmaiey, think,
to The Committee on Foreign Relations | do not know
Al. hat milf hp cn.