The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-11
The Democratic Bearing of an ocean Penny
Postage.

Postage.
To the Editor of the Union:
SIR: Having, as hope, demonstrated 10 the satsfac-
ton of the majority Of your readers that penny
postage will pay, permit advert briefly to It's bear
ing upon the wellbeiDg Of millions of handwriting men
and women in this country who were born IN forelgn
lands Their number cannot be less al this moment than
three millions And still they come, a, The rate OF near
y thousand day, from all the oppressed populations
in the Old World, The three millions that have al
ready dispersed themselves the Union, from Cafor
MIA to Canada, have lett behind, IN the lands of their
birth, at least fifteen millions Of relatives and friends TO
whom they bound by The strongest ties OF nature and
affection. The Irish, German and other emgran,s IRON
Europe in this ccuny, write and receive full one bali
the letters that the Atlantic and in consequence
OF the poverty OF their friends the they pay
the postage both ways; for Mr. Editor, how poor
agricultural aborer in Saxony, whose wages do not ay
erage more than cents day. pay huiy cents postage
on letter from his son in Wisconsin II is fact that
the Irish and Germans in this country pay the postage
even on their remances OF money their parents rca
tives in Europe, not only that their gifts OF affection may
not be diminished by fsrhing bu, that those who are
to receive them may not be obliged TO go around among
their peasant neighbours to beg borrow penny by pen
nv the shilling or twenty -four cents charged the lei
ter before they may take IL from the office. The social
sympahes the attachments the yearning hopes and aec
tons that these sea-dyided Millions do honor 10
human nature The traveller Ireland Germany may
see al almost every railway station and at almost every
hour OF the day. pathetic evidence OF the strength OF
these sentiments have Witnessed many Of these at.
fectng spectacles ia both countries while endeavorng
10 elicit an interest in favor OF this cheap post
age have seen hundreds OF all ages weeping and
waling al the windows and doors OF the railway cars
which werV bearing away from their midst two or three
OF their number bound to America. | have seen the
brakemen away by main force decTepid haggad old
men and women, from their desperate clutch at the win
ubtc taxi n
friend al the hazard OF their lives Nor these tran
sent sentiments They live in the heart Of the Irish en-
igrant in America; they gu II with brobbing remem-
branees OF home BY day and night-in the mine and
mountain, field and forest The Irish housemaid over
her washuh. her brother, bowling beneath the bod in
the hottest day OF summer remember the home
OF their childhood, its wants and souows and portion
OF their daily earnngs laid by minister TO the
fort of their distant parents II any prso be asked OF
this let the fact speak, that during the year 1852 the
Irish emieran,s in this country sent than So 000,-
600 TO their relatives aud friends in Ireland, in prob
ably not averaging above $40 per remittance Thus, II
required $50 900 letters merely convey this
as many homes in Ireland The other half Of the letters
that cross the Atlantic belong chiefly commercial
respondenee. They are the communications that pass
bel ween rich merchants in America and Europe, who
never pay the postage them out Of their peck
es but charge il on the goods they sell 10 their custom
ers Thus the merchant receives back the whole posta
pal and interest and profit too for he expects and ough
| TO expect TO make much profit per cent out OF thu
money he pays in postage, from the amount o.
expe aditure in any other direction. So think Mr. Ed
or that your readers will it, clearly that nearly hs
4 whole direct, sensible tax for The transmission of ih,
mails between The United States and Europe is impose,
upon the poor, hard.working and women who have
been expaated this country by poverty and oppres
sion in the Old World We ask our government, TO Iif
4 from the iniercommunion OF these sea-dyded million
that icy tax that letters It's current that il may
after run full and free We AK for them an ocean penny
postage that every one Of their number who yearns L
send thought OF loving remembrance across the SCI
may enjoy and impart the luxury, at a cost which
will not pinch single meal Of the poores, Of them all
We ask il as an act OF democratic equity and justice
which would do more 10 promote the social happiness
and win the gratitude of The foreign born inhabitants
the Union, than any other single measure which on
government can consuutionally bestow upon them
This measure would be democratic, because would b.
universal in its benefits Whilst II advanced the gfea
Interests OF commerce. and benefited, beyond description
The mercantile commonly IL would be unspeakabi
boon to that great and growing of our popuatio
who come from ioreign lands
II ELIHU BURRITT
WAsHNeToE, March s, 1854