New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-14
ABOLITION OF THE postal SYSTEM
SPEECH OF GERRIT SMITH,


Office and Pos, Roads being under consideration,
Mr.. SMITH, ~ w. presented the following amenl-
ment
M. s si sb and avSas and SS s: .s i
thereafter be tree to eay Letters as 70 cary anything else
Mr. SMITH N. Y. y said:
WISH Mr. Speaker, to make an argument in support of
nv amendment. l have read the bill, which the Chair.
man Of the Committee the Post Office and Post Roads
introduced and constrained TO say, that do not like
either of then. dislike both of themsnd do 90 If for
no other than that they both bear much rese-
blance 10 the existing Post Office laws
The sPEAKER.-wiu the gentleman from New-York
inform the Chair whether be proposes 70 amend the og
nal bill or the substituted
Mr. sMITH-I have no choice. Whichever the Chair
shall think most proper, shall be satisfied with
A MEMBER.-APpy it to each.
Mr.. SMl1HLet my amendment be first TO the original
BILL and then if it fail in that mode be to the substitute
My first objection TO these papers-for such shall call
the bill and substtues that they both propose to retain
the Thanking privilege 1t is true that the substitute docs
propose retain to the dscredt of the ice
Department, in other words, charge upon that
Department. but what is the thing the people il
proposes to retain It at the expense Of the common
Treasury.
am free to admit that most members of Congress have
to write more letters than they would have TO- we're they
not members Of Congress- The difference would not be
great however if the persons who write TO them were
compelled as such persons should be- to pay postage
their letters and tins difference would be still less such
10 pay the postage the every where the
correspondence the business Of those who originate
ii. Most ~ the letters, with which deuged
too unimporaDt, and even frivolous to have been written
had then writers been obliged 10 pay postage them
And then as to the speeches sendhe country would
not perish if they were not sent Perhaps indeed, it
would not be essentially less enlightened l apprehend
that IN the food of speeches which pour the laad
there s quite much Of darkness as of light OF course
! would not speak dispaTagingly OF my speeches.
Laughter. Every member will far provide for his
sefoompacency TO make, If not express, at least
taoit exception in behalf of his speeches. whenever
he is tempted TO speak sghngy Of the Of speeches
Laughter. But, am willing to admit that it may be
proper TO send of limited number OF our speeches at
the expense of Government far the is
concerned. Hence am willing to have Government fur
nsh each member of Congress with stamps during his
term TO the amount Of say $500 siO0 These stamps
should be peculiar. They should be made to be used by
members OF Congress Ony and only in frankng printed
matter Let the value Of each frank be cent and let
a single frank be sufficient TO frank two The
member Of Congress who should not wish TO all his
stamps, would take pleasure IN letting feow-nember
have the balance
Another objection which have to these papers is not
that they propose than rate of postage, but rath
or that they do not propose than two Moreover
the higher of the two of comparatively very little con-
sequence. For ten years to come fortynne hteths OF
the letters would not be affected by the higher rate la
other words one letter in fifty would be charged with
the cents of postage. Then these papers
reasonable in making distance the sole ground of differ
in the rates of postage. Distance il but one aud it
is far from being the most important one OF the grounds
for such difference Density and sparsenes OF population
facilities and non-facies Of carrage-are much more
important considerations in authorizing and measuring
such difference Hence, then although the existing Post
Office laws provide for bot rate OF postage, and al
though there evidently should be thar never
theess the papers before us are even IN this respect
hardly an apprecabe Improvement those laws, so ILL.,
grounded faulty the higher rate of postage, which
they propose.
To illustrate the of these papers, in making
distance the ground Of difference in rates of postage
they provide that letter from Boston to San Francisco
sbal be charged with ten cents and letter from San
Francifco to auy postoce in the region of the Rocky
papers and with only three cents according to the other
But may be worth three times much carry this let
ter from San Franceco that letter to San FRANCISCO.
Both, then because this higher rate Of postage to az
feet small q, proportion OF the letters; and because
rate Of POSTAGE founded insufficient reason, must
IL adopted be very shortived; and because, too. it
seems well nigh impossible that il should be adopted
she'll regard these papers in the argument AN
making against the as virtually proposing but one rate
ILave still another objection TO these papers. It, my
chief one They would have Sovernment eontn 40 to be
rasa rem such work. entirely ana forever IN favor
of breaking up the Post Office Department Quad havS
The people left as free to choose their modes OF carry
ire their letters as 10 choose their modes of carrying
t,ir other properly. Why should Government carry tbs
httersiaDy more than the other property OF he people
Again if Government may carry the property OF the peo
e why not the persons Of the people aso-why not pas
cengers well az property!
Is n said that letters especially of Them very
yoreeisos and important and thai therefore toe carrier
them should be highly trust WORTHY aud responsible
admit ALL and hold that this is reason why the pro
a choice of carriersaye the widest range ef selection
Happily for the people, they are net forbidden by Gov
ernmex TO transmit money by express They may chocs,
between the express and the mail. And what does the
choice which they actually make, iroveI proves tia
they sceer the expressi:o the maid in other verde tia
the eNress is a safe and suitable conveyance TO-
money than the mall 1t proves too that IN all probe
bity the people would, were they not restricted TO the
mail extensively ado otherrn"dee OF ransmhsg letter.
asweI as money. 1gis monopoly of Government rs az
graym ed by the feet that Gov dsclams al abl
iy for damages arising from either the bad performance
or pa, performance. 81 the work il has monopoiEed
Is aid that speed and punetuaity are necessary IN f
trapsn sson of letters. They But this, instead o.
being an argument against abOlshRg the Post0ihce De
and against throwing open ITS work TO the irees
and wi6e competition strong argument Tor doing
ge motive for aainng speed and puoctushy IN tht
case ID ouch competition must be unspeak ably stronger
and more efectua than when, there ID no compe
titon IT would be strange indeed if under the pressure
of unted rivalry greater than the present degree OF
speed and punctuslky should not De attained IL wouid
be srsECe indeed the enterprise sharp ssght and IN
tense utsrest of individuals and small associations should
not psh the work with far greater speed and pune
tuaity n an characteristic it in the hands of Government
IL wouldie strange, indeed, II Government
that 10 corpuen unweldy, lazy so bluRdering-
Anoud found 10 be fitted TO the work OF carrying tue
mail Be- not left TO mere theory In the case:
fhe actus fact that here the mail is several hours and
there several days behind the express is as gsrRg as the
Ia said that il is important to have the rates of post
ace low. admit it is. admit that, us in the case OF
commerce Sself, the nearly commercial CORE
sldence be free the better And more eager am
10 a6mit thst the commerce of the affections which
ar "A on eers of friendship and love, should be bni
lightly taxed These admissions, however, make nothing
aea II nv doctrine that Government is not tit to be the
carr r OF letters. On the contrary, Government must
cease 10 he he carrier have, TO speak more
safely ere we can be entitled TO have cheap postage
either on land OF seaeither ocean penny postage Two
cents or any other demanded reduction of postage we