The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-08

my readiness 10 conclude The pendng copsenuon WIN
s y .pg sss s sss ~ s Z BEGUN
fifteen cents which shall combine i've cents tn'so
States cents Belgium inland and eight cents sea
postage :,
MOI having received from the Mexican government The
expected project Of postal convention, have recently
taken lay before that such proposals
this subject in the form vi treaty trust may prove
acceptable As all International well as in domestic
postal arrangements simplicity Of detail - OF the highest
importance have proposed the basis Of the convention
two countries and that this rate be liked at fifteen cents
combining five United States 10 TIRES cents Mexican
inland and cents postagthe latter 10 inure 10
the country performing the sea gulf service
In the annual report OF the Postmaster General OF Great
Britain referring TO the remarks in my last annual report
the subject he takes 10 present the views ana
arguments OF his the principal points Of
difference between the countries in regard TO postal
raDgenents. Except In two particulars ~ Is nel
perceived that any reply from this department is demand
either his observations in his report or In his letter
of the 9th Of April last the subject to our minis
large part Of which consists OF an extract rom ne re-
port With reference the action OF the British govern
ment in withholding It's assent 70 the admission o. ane
what the United States has from the hrst regarded as ia
aud reasonable terms my views have already been fuly
stated in my letter OF 10th July 1853 to the Secretary OF
State and printed In Executive Document No 10 of the
Senate last session. which letter has also been commune
ted the British government refer to this part oil the
subject now only for the purpose Of correcting very err
roneous impression which could not fail to be con-
veyed by the in which the Postmaster General
of Great Britain has stated the case in his report
lie admits that the United States receive but twelve and
half cents an ounce transit postage the British and Cana
a closed mails and that Great Britain receives twenty
censan ounceneary double that sufor the transit con-
veyance of the United States and French correspondence
passing through England. But by partial arrangement
entered into between the governments OF England and
France this correspondence when transmitted on the Gu
nard steamers goes closed mails at reduced mot
transt postage of ten the single H-ounce letter
hence he alleges that IL Is inconsistent our part to COM
plain that his thus enables French subjects TO
nrstS alto
rate of cents while demand sixteen cents from our
own citizens for the like service by United States packets
and ut the time to complain that the British charges
too high He adds that the United States has the
matter in is own hands and may make the rates on both
United States and British lines uniform by reducing the
sea rate on its own lines and that uniform rate would
not be secured by reduction Of the British transit
charge to 3d. Tor twelve and half cents) demanded
by the United States without such reduction Of sea
postage. The ingenuity Of this mode Of stating the
sufficient answer to say that tho only controversy has
been with reference reduction Of the British transit
postage that the postage has not been point IN dis
pnte and that reasonable demands for reduc-
ton OF the transit postage acceded the reduction of the
sea postage by the United States lines would follow Of
course since the United States and French mails would
then be treated closed mails and all letters between the
two countries passing through England would be trans
mitted at uniform rate OF postage True, the United
States has 1t in its power in two ways to make the rate
uniform by both United States and British lines First by
reducing the postage bounce letters BY its own
lines and secondly by raising the inland rate from five
to eleven cents on ali letters conveyed by
British packets The former have not deemed it advisa
BE to 40 until tho British transit charge is reduced The
British government has done it in their case, no
doubt for equivalent and in order that their present
bich transit rate may be reduced This other alterna
i've If The present state Of things is continue VIII in
nv judgments ne very proper to adopt especially the
United States inland rate would still be less than that Of
France thsse letters and = ,nat an enc pc
put these unjust attempts TO favor the Cunard 70 the
prejudice Of the American steamship lines
In regard to the question Of postage on pamphlets and
magazines between the two countries the case stands thus
Under the treaty the rate either side for works Of this
kind not weighing two ounces Is two cents When
above two and not sixteen ounces the charge on
either side is increased to four cents an ounce each coun
try collecting and retaining its ewn postage; but no
pamphlet weighing eight periodical over sixteen
ounces be sent except at letter rate Books are IKE
wise subject to letter postage p respect to newspapers
the same, regardless Of the packet whether American
British performing the service For pamphlets and
periodicals above the weight Of two ounces, proposed
that the either side be reduced TO cent ounce
and suggested that there need be limit in respect to
weight This proposition the British office declined, and
10 lieu thereof proposed the plan OF book post to en-
brace books well pamphlets and magazines at the fol-
lowing combined rates:
For every packet containing printed book magazine
view or pamphlet when not exceeding half pound in
When exceeding half pound, and no, exceeding
When exceeding one pound, and not exceeding
two :
And on, increasing twenyfour cents for every add
tonal pound fraction Of pound They further pro-
poed compulsory prepaymen in full and that of the total
amount of postage paid upon each packet, one-ihird
should be considered to represent the inland British rate
one-thrd the rate and the remaining third the United
States inland rate the rate TO belong 70 the country
eYecting the marine conveyance For various reasons
could assent TO this plan First do not consider the
proposed equitable division Of the inland POSTAGE
ond far the greater part Of the books likely to be
mtted in the mail II is fair to presume would be sent
Great Britain this country in British packets and
lower than the custom duties thereon; third, the
bned for pamphlets and periodicals Of the weight Of
and under would be raised from the present
of four twelve Other less important
objections might be mentioned but the correspondence
this subject having call from the Senate the last
session. been furnished and printed Executive Document
No. 6T further remarks here 10 regard to II deemed
In the report be duly presented to Congress viii APP
pear detailed Of failures and other Irregular
ties which have occurred In the Of The mails
during the year. and the fines and deductions which have
been imposed upon contractors These fines and deduc-
tons will be found to amount to $l24530 So During the
preceding year they amounted to l0s6 So These fines
show that contractors have been held TO rigorous per-
the mails for which neither the contractors any other
agents OF the department bsms,ble For ircguar-
ties Of this nature well for real denquences the de-
Is constantly made the subject Of reproach Where
there is good ground OF complaint this is expected but
apparent that there is ready disposition every
occasion Of actual presumed slight arrangement In the
machinery OF the mails TO reflect upon the department,
The postal establishment is in which every citizen
deeply interested and all should aid in rendering IL
"A perfect possible Instead Of dcnuneation In the
OF mistake cnreessne neglect general rule