Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-07-12

The Gesuga. Republican comes TO hand with
the following article marked for our attention
Pernsing it, we find Its tone and arguments 80
heartily endorsed. that we at once put II in
hand for reproduction, commenting it to the
attention Of the general reader, not only, but
more especially to our legislators and law
makers.
GREAT wRoNG---sHALL IT1 BE
RTGHTED.
As law abolishing all free mail
matter took effect on the lst inst the
present seems an appropriate time to dis
cuss the merits of that law. II is well
known that it was enacted without due
consideration on the part of Congress,
originating in a legislative trick with
some of the members, and being acquies-
ced in as a miserable blunder, by the rest.
There were those undoubtedly who de-
s, |, by the abolition of all free matter
to punish the press for demanding the
repeal of the franking privilege, and
such were permitted to have their own
way, to the detriment of the country
and the discredit of the Government.
We are not among those who have
clamOred, in season and out, for the un-
conditional repeal of the franking privi-
lege, and can therefore treat this subject
plainly without the least inconsistency.
TO our mind, there was neither reason nor
justice in any such clamor The priyi-
lege, though liable to abuse, was one
which had always existed under the
Government, and, in some form and
with proper restrictions, should exist
under any government. 1t is not insti-
tuted as a mere personal privilege, but a
benefit to the people, and, in the case
of Members of Congress especially,
should be so regarded, being intended tc
bring them into more intimate relations
with their constituents than would 9th.
wise be practicable. We have no sympa.
thy with the sentiment which would de.
mand the restoration of all free matter
not covered with the franking privilege,
and leave that unrestored as an unmiti-
gated evil. On the contrary, while we
would limit it within proper bounds
and hold those who enjoy it to a more
strict accountability for its abuse, we be.
lieve it should and will be restored.
But whether we are right in this view
of the franking privilege or not, ther,
can be no question that the law by
which it is abolished, and which annihi
lates at single blow all free mail mat
ter, is gross outrage upon the pres
and people of the country, and ought at
the earliest opportunity, to be repealed
or essentially modified. For Congress.
to deprive the people of a privilege Sc
long enjoyed, so beneficial to all, and Sc
Ii tie burdensome to the Government
and at the same time vote themselves
general increase of salaries, is wrong
to which they will not quietly submit
Had the motive been retrenchment ant
reform, the action would have beel
more just and consistent. So inconven
lent, expensive and impracticle has tn
new law proved at the very outset, tha
the Post Office Department has been com
PEELED in some particulars to disre
gard it.
BY it, not only all correspondence re
lating to the business of the Depart
ments, but all supplies issued therefron
to subordinate officials, must be prepai
by stamps. These supplies includ
packages of wrapping paper, twin,
stamps, weighing-seales, &c, some c
which being very bulky and subject t
letter-rates, which are uniform through
out the country, it would cost the Go7
ernment more to send by mail five mil,
than by express to the remotest corne
of the Union. To avoid this dilemm;
the Post Office Department has Just il
sued circular to the effect that supple
will still continue to be sent to pos
masters free; and the Treasury Depar
ment will undoubtedly be under the 1T
cessity of pursuing similar course
and what better evidence could be gi'
en- of the impropriety of any law tha
that the Departments of the Cover
ment are compelled by the necessiti
of the public service to violate its pr
. visions?
But it is in regard to the COUNT
= press that the injustice of the law is mo
Z Z manifest. The privilege of a free ci
= culation in the county where publishe
: is one which weekly papers have lor
! enjoyed, which the people have come
: view as right, and the abo ition
,, which can be of little benefit tolhe Go
: ernment. 1t was granted to d tt
- country press in its unequal conte
: with the monopolizing city press; an
> whether it can be claimed as a right
!, not, there never has been time in I
4 history af the country, when it was
urgently demanded, or when the arg
!. ment in its favor was so strong as no
AS the country has increased in popul
4 ton, and the facilities for intercomm
= nication have multiplied the circulate
!, and the influence of the city press ha
's enlarged, and the price of city weekli
=, have been reduced in proportions
:. Meanwhile, the country press, in
- more limited sphere, bas been unabl
=. to compete with the city press in priC
=. yet the fact that it has been subject
no postage within the county whel
supported has operated in its fav'
It Now, the abolition of this privile
n which was uncalled for and utterly
d excusable, is equivalent to tho levyi
le of tax of ten per cent. on the subscr
Il tions of the country press, in favor
le that of the city. But state the case
e. favorably for our lawmakers as possil
s. -cOncede for the sake of the argume
,r that no newspapers are entitled to- SUI
n special favor from the Government
/ a r 4 hA m