Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-05-03
POSTAL REFORM.

work by dispensing facts to the Community ana
by securing petitions TO Congress. The several
points proposed are {:
l.. A Uniform Postage of Two Cents on all let
tiers not exceeding half an ounce in weight,
throughout the United States. 2. Receiving Ilous-
cs and Letter Carriers in all cites and principal
towns. 8. Money Orders from one Post Office to
another, for sums not exceeding twenty-five dollars
4. A Uniform and Low Rate Of Ocean Postage
). The Postage on Franked Matter, to be paid out
of the Treasury. 6. The Abolition of Compulso-
ry Prepayment. Z. The Return Of all Dead Let
ters to the writer's.
We cheerfully comply with the request Of the
New York Committed and publish from one OF the
papers of that city the accompanying article with
the form of petition proposed:
"Thesc several points have been discussed over
and over, and must commend themselves, not only
to the Country, but to the Lawmakers at Washing
ton. Every principle here, except Cheap Ocean
Postage, has been in successful operation in Great
Britain, for many years, and nearly all of them in
several of the Continental States Of Europe. When
we see the immense circulation that our principal
Daily Papers have obtained, at two cents a copy,
is it not evident that q low price has been one Of
the principal causes?
"of the advantages Of uniformity there can be
but one opinion, Before there was uniform post
age in Great Britain, the cost Of handling and
sorting the letters in that country was $50 for ey-
cry thousand letters, and since uniformity, the
cost has been but 81 a thousand, and this includes
all the expenses of letter carriers, and receiving
houses. The 443, 900, 900 letters in Great Britain
in 1854, cost in the handling, mot transportation,
tie sum of So, 1888, 1875, while at the rate of cost be-
fore having n uniform postage, the expense would
have been $1,000, 40. These facts are disclosed
in Mr.. Pliny Miles Pamphlet on Postal Retorm."
Several European nations write from two to four
times as many letters in proportion to the popula-
ton, as the United States, and our solf-gratulation
and pride are every day mortified by comparisons
like these.
"To use the language CT Putnam's Magazine,
We are now enduring a Postal System which wor-
ries government. vexes and Injuries the public, de-
moralizes the officials, and pleases nobody. AT
the Same time, in Great Britain, they are enjoying
a Postal Reform which enriches the government,
serves and benefits The public, controls the officials
and satisfies everybody. A call is
made on our merchants, leading men, and the pub
lie generally, to stir at once in this matter, with
decision. We echo this call with all our heart, and
will not despair of the triumph Of facts and com.
mon sense
"If we had q system Of drafts or money orders
between all of our principal Post Offices, should
we see the daily catalogue of mail robberies, loss
es, and crimes, that now fill our journals?
'If letters mailed Intentionally, or unintention-
ally, without stamps affixed, whether by the rich
or poor, by the learned or ignorant, and if letters
that have their stamps lost or stolen,-if all these
letters were forwarded to the persons addressed
should We hear of a small remittance to a poor
woman being detained here, or of the detention Of
twenty thousand dollars, there; or of the loss of
an estate of thirty thousand dollars for want of q
WITNESSES testimony, confiscdted in an unpaid letter;
or Of an actual loss of life from the failure of a
letter from this cause? Should we hear of long
that most unj ust law Of compulsory prepayment?
Prepayment of postage is very well, but when not
prepaid, is it just to destroy the letters? With
the charge of two cents when prepaid, and double
that in all cases when not prepaid, scarce a letter
would 60 without pre- payment. 1t is a very grave
question, and one which can scarcely admit of de-
bate, whether all letters found without stamps,
should be seized, taken to Washington, aud burn
ed, and tkat without giving any information to the
owners. Such is the operation Of the present
law.
"The Address of the Postal Reform Committee
shows the ability of a frst.class state paper. 1t
should be read by every person who writes a let
ter, or casts a vote. Why should we expect that
our Congressman and the Post Office Department
will do every thing necessary, and that just to the
taste and liking of the people? We select our
lawmakers, but are they always good and faithful
Are there not, moreover, many short
comings on our part? Do we, do the people, who
are so fond of criticising our rulers and rcpresen-
tatives, make sufficient efforts to inform and in
struct them respecting our wants? Peaceful and
orderly gatherings to give expression to the pub
lie voice, and respectful petitions to Congress. have
almost entirely given way to the political war;
whoop and the Lobby member" King Caucus
and King Money have raised a throne in place of
republican convention and republican petition. Is
our Post Office worth having? If not, let it be
abolished. If it is, let us make it worthy Of the
age in which we live, and commensurate with the
wants of our population.
"a petition from one person or one dozen, should
receive attention at the hands of members of Con-
gress, according to its merits, the same as if sign
ed by a thousand. Can not these petitions, sign
ed by a greater or less number, asking for specific
postal improvements, go up to Washington from
nearly every Congressional District in the Union;
that within the next six weeks? Will not the
of each Senator and Representative
that they have a right to insist on a hearing,
that he is responsible to them for every speech
he makes, and every vote lie casts ? If we do our
duty, will our representatives shelve our appeals
as SO much waste paper, and pass by our prayers
rs so many idle words? 1t will be ZINE to consid-
CIR their responsibility, when we have acted, and
they have refused"
PETITION.
To tile Honorable tie Senate and House Of Repre-
~senidtires of The United STATES. in COngTess as