The record-union., 1893-07-28
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Intercourse between the American
Colonies previous to 1893 was so slight as
not to call for special facilities or regular
lines. In urgent cases special messen-
gers were sent, but the bulk of corre-
spondence, such as it was, went by
friends, especially in coastwise vessels.
The first idea for a postal line along the
coast from New England to the Carolinas
originated in New York, according to
the Postal Record, and was approved by
their lordships in London, provided at
least One-tenth of the gross receipts were
paid over to the Duke Of York. Of
course the plan failed. Before there
could be any gross receipts somebody
had to pay for post riders to travel those
long roads from Nova Scotia to Carolina,
of which the great men in London ex-
pected profits for the Duke.
Not to mention other schemes, Andrew
Hamilton, of East Jersey, had occasion
to go to London in consequence of the
Andres troubles. He was a far-sighted
man, and while he was in London a pat
ent for an American Postotfice was issued
to Thomas Neale, and Andrew Hamilton
was appointed American Postmaster
General, an appointment so happy that
after lapse of two centuries we ought to
be thankful for it. Hamilton, the father
of the American Postoffice, was a very
wise man and he was successful. He had
nothing to start with other than the pat
ent, which gave him a monopoly, but
might arouse the opposition of the colo
nies and their local Postmasters. He had
to select post route through country
very little travelled. He had to engage
trusty mail carriers. He had to buy
| horses and the regulation horns for his
post riders. He had to replace the local
Postotfices and he had to get the consent
of each colony for his postage rates. Late
in the summer of 1862 he returned from
London to America, where he travelled
from colony TO colony, getting from each
what he could in the way of subsidies
and law, and then starting his mail serv-
| ice.
Jealousy between the colonies was
great, the prejudice against strangers was
greater and distrust OF suggestions from
the mother country was greatest. Hainil-
ton overcame all obstacles; he actually
induced all colonies to pass substantially
the same Postotfice Act, prescribing the
same postage rates; he obtained from
each colony what authority he required
and i'll 1893 the mail was carried from
Portsmouth, \. H., then known as Pts
| cataqua, to Philadelphia and beyond. 1t
has been carried eNer since with but acci-
dental Interruptions. The mail was
from Portsmouth to Boston, Say
| brook, New Haven, New York, Perth
Amboy, Burlington and Philadelphia.
| The chief point beyond was New Castle.
The question may well be asked, which
was the greater achievement, to create
this service, or to get Pennsylvania,
New York and Massachusetts, not to
mention the other colonies, to be of one
mind in renouncing local rights and local
offices, to agree on a postal system that
did not exist. and to promise money to
carry the enterprise into effect? Neither
before nor after 1893 has there been a like
triumph in all American legislation. The
greatest OF these Hamilton Acts is the
Massachusetts law of June 9, 1888, which
provides even for the receiving stamp to
be put on all mail matter; but the most
important, perhaps, Is the Pennsylvania
Act, passed on May 30, l6g3, at Philadel-
phia. The reason for this statement is the
fact that the Massachusetts Act was dis
allowed by their lordships in London
while the Pennsylvania Act was not SUBJ
ject to superior approval Virginia, New
Iork and Connecticut passed similar
Acts; New Hampshire helped.
If a date for The great bIcentenary of
the American postottice must be named,
May 3Jth appears 10 the most appropri-
ate, the earlier steps being preliminary
while the Pennsylvania Act assured the
success of Hamilton's plan, and was
promptly followed by the post riders
making their regular weekly trips be-
/ tween Portsmouth and Philadelphia. If
there is to be a general celebration il
ought to be IN the latter city. Hamilton
deserves a monument, which ought to
stand IN front OF the Philadelphia post
office. More than any one thing, Hamil-
toms postotfice served TO establish
closer union between the several colonies
ana their people. His postoffice was not
only a great civilizer, but vast political
need that helped to establish the united
colonies, just as the postoffice under Ben
1 jamin Franklin, in I715, helped in no
2 rg, sei f.i, he !
/ states. No department of the National
Government except the postot1ice, can
4 boast of an unbrokeu history covering
two centuries. and no service had for its
/ originator and head man superior to
| Andrew Hamilton.