The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-08-04
For the Gazette.
OF THE POSTAGE SYSTEM


The press, teeming as it does with pro-
ductions from nearly every pen, renders it
almost impossible to strike an entirely "orig-
inal vein," inasmuch as nearly every princi-
pie has been agitated, and every subject
discussed; and if f"thought makes track"
or an idea ushers in some new light upon
any subject, some one else claims its orig
naton. Even if a new principle in me-
chanism, or new planet be discovered in
the II eavens, some one else claims its dis
covery. Hence it is almost impossible to
hit upon anything new or original; there
fore have not attempted it.
Huge and ponderous governments are the
least calculated, and most unqualified to
conduct the delicate, small, and expeditions
business of conveying intelligence, by trans
porting and delivering letters and papers.
Forsooth, they are the most awkward, op-
pressive and wasteful and therefore, espe-
cially unfit in the management Of such
small matters, where it requires promptitude
and speed. The United States have secur-
ed to themselves monopoly whereby they
can extort from the people three times as
much as it is worth to deliver intelligence
to them. The prices have been made a
great deal higher than they would have
been had the whole matter been left to pri-
vate enterprise. Thus, the people have
been weighed down with oppression, intel
ligence discouraged, and nothing gained by
the oppression. Animated by the usual in
stincts of despotism, the government which
could spend millions of dollars on the army,
to prepare them for killing and blowing out
the brains of the POOR Mexcans, could not
bear the idea that the Post Office Depart
ment which diffuses intelligence and light
to the happy, social, freside circle, should
receive anything from the U. s. Treasury.
No-the Post Office must be made to pay
for ITSELF and that too, by heavy tax laid
upon the matter carried in the mails in the
form of high postage.
In the hands of private enterprise, it
would have done this, and far more; but in
the hands of government, it is very difficult
to make it remunerative. A word, dot, fig
ure, or mark, designed for intelligence,
placed upon newspaper, subjects it to let
ter postage, besides heavy penalty, and a
letter must not contain piece Of paper ad-
dressed to third individual, without being
subject to heavy fine. And under the
present law, no one may carry letter un-
less it be enclosed in Post Office envel-
ope. Here, then, is another extra expense
of creating route agents, and searching ev-
cry traveller whom they suspect has letters
in his possession which ought to go in the
mails. Thereby FORCING individuals to send
all written intelligence through the Post
Office; thus they deprive the people of the
privilege of sending any communication by
their friends, unless, as | remarked before,
such communication be placed in Post
Office envelope and sealed, SO that it can
not be opened without destroying the en-
velope. For what reason is such tyran'
nical law enforced!-can any one tell!
The appointment of Postmasters in our
large towns is not always made on account
of their business tact, nor are the selections
made by the people whom they are to serve
but they are made by the officials at Wash.
ington, who cannot be well acquainted with
their local circumstances, and who would be
more apt to regard the whole patronage ol
the Department as the sole means of build
ing up their political power.
II is no wonder, then, that the system has
always worked badly; and in our cities, the
people have always paid twice or three
times as much for their Post Office service
as it is worth, and are never decently served
even at that price, but are compelled TO lose
mayo than the whole postage in wasted