The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1855-12-23

PREPAyMEET OF TosrAGE.-Th.
Commercial Bulletin Of the l4th inst.
comments upon an article taken from
the Philadelphia Enquirer Of late
date, on Postal Reform, by Mr. PLlNY
MnEs. Mr.. NJ, takes strong grounds
against the system Of compulsory pre-
payment. lie contends that it is an
illogical and Improbable, in finan-
cial point of view, as it is inconveni-
ent and unjust to the citizens. Gov
ernment, he atlirms, actually loses by
it nearly one million per apnum. In
1852, the only year for which we have
a report on the subject Of paid and un-
paid letters, there were over 5O,OOO,-
900 of letters prepaid, aud a little over
2,0OO.O00 that we're sent unpaid -
The difference between the average
postage was about two cents and three
mills per letter and the extra charge
brought no less than 1857 900. Mr.
MITES argues, that the evils of the
law Of compulsory prepayment are
widely felt, and there is no prospect
Of their diminishing. The number,
too, Of unpaid or forfeited letters does
not decrease. lie states further, that
in the United States over two hundred
thousand unpaid letters will, within n
year, BY the operation Of this law, be
totally destroyed, and without the
knowledge Ct the writer's or OWNERS
This, indeed, seems cruel and unjust
Mr.. Miles adds:
1T is no argument but very in
structive fact, nevertheless. that in the
official accounts Of the postal systems
Of over thirty different nations, which
| have in my possession, there are on
ly tive countries beyond this--tbat
have compulsory prepay nont Of
postage, and they are among the most
noted Of the pure despotisms Of the
world, the governments that care the
least for the welfare of the people
they are Russia aud Brazil"
II We notice that Gro. "A. PIKE,
Of the Comet, has been elected to the
State Legislature by the American
party Of the parish of East Baton
Rouge. This is one oasis in the waste
wilderness of defeat which has happen
ed upon us in this State Pike, is an
editor after our own heart--open and
frank as an honest heart cah make
man, and as independent as a wood
chopper He was elected upon his
own undisguised merits, and no mis-
take Of that A health to you, George,
and three cheers for the Comet -
Mndeu Gazette.
We, the editor pro tenn. have al
always entertained high opinion of
our friend BLACKBURN, Of the Gazette,
as being a whole soul and clever feI-
low-he is a bold and fearless writer
saysjust what he thinks without regard
to consequences-more especially when
he finds " he Democracy in tri-color-
ed trowscrs."
The Gazette, throughout the past
fought ncbly for the great
cause Of the American Party. Sue
cess to the Gazette.
WHAT THE FEEScu THlNk.-The
correspondent Of the Providence Jour
nal says: |
An article lately appeared in the
Nioniteur upon the naval strength and
resources of the United States, and
showing that although our actual force
on the war footing was small, We had
The great elements Of naval strength
IN our vast commerce, in the charac.
ter Of our naval architecture and navi-
cation, and in the number Of seamen
that we could command. The tone Of
this article was strikinglyin contrast
with tho flinnant stvla nf tho Ennl;sb