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II theFor the Gazette, POST OFFICE REFORM.Mr. Editor:—The cry Ins come up from the North oltd the South, fium tlie Eist and from tin-West, for Poit Office Reform; and let us he valley of the Wuhnsh coho haek the e are deeply inter*st-il in this im-portanl matter, and it behooves us to take some decisive steps m regard to it. The following article fiotn the pen of Park Benjtmin, editor of the “New World,” shows into what imbecile hands is committed the management of this d'-partment of Government. We have suffered long and deeply, not only in regard la the unjust rates of postage, but by the “pains and penalties” extorted by C. A. Wickliffe and his under operatives.When such men as John Tyler and Wicklilfo are at the head of our Government, we can expect no legislation but tint# mC the most s; Ifish and narrow minded cluracter. Let us take up the matter m earnest, and do all we can to produce a reform, and to rid ourselves of extortion xtottionr rs.Tiie Cahinkt Reports.—Smce our last, the Reports of the various Members ol the Cabinet have been published. The fact that they have already been circulated m nearly all the journals, forbids their insertion in these pages. They are, we were gratified to observe, business like documents; as brief as Was convenient, and to the point Each Secretary shows himself quite capalde of discharging liiefor nil distances, would a (lord at least as much revenue, and be vastly more beneficial to the public than the present rates.5. The present aihitrury, capricious and ixcessive charges on conveyance of print •d matter, oilier than newspapers, in the mails, seem directly calculated to drive n-way custom from the Department, when its plain interest should lead it to court uni attract business, as atl of ult; are obliged, to do if we would live by it. We would therefore request the adoption of a uniform rate of postage of one half cent 01 every Bewspqicr, periodical or printed sheet, conveyed in the mail, when the postage is paid in advance, and double that on each sheet which may he so con veyed, when it is not so paid in advance.ti. That the reduction of our rates of postage to sums computed, and payable in the Federal currency of this Union, s de manded by a just regard to na'ional char •icier, no less than to the obvious convert• leiico of the people.7. That liie penal enactments and denunciations, by which it is sought to com pel the people to support the Post Ollice, when their „«n interest and convenience m y be better gut.served without it, are absurd, tyrannical, inelficient for any good purpose, and ought to he abolished.Wherefore, we entreat votir honorable bodies to take early, decided, and ellie measures for the relief of tin1 people from the burdens under which they have long groaned, and which threatened the th mnition of dm utility and solvency of the Post ( Miice, by the total withdrawal of the public confidence und patronage.Mr.ihrougl mind tl receivi with litgress, the 4ilJOHN'JinThe IS] Mr. Atrian cl the de(Mr. Adeep ti noble i his let' repliec “1th have £ .States (lie adernme helmi! whole this siThe eafter t it was fore tlpeet s a us we shouliand (Mu. GaLIIOFN AND THU PRESIDENCY.— We copied a short time since a Washing* ing’on letter from the Richmond Enquirer, n which it was distinctly stated that the ('nlhuunites, in the Enenfoco caucus at Washington, dec.ared they had no expectation he would he nominated—and ad d'd that the rumors pointed to his being withdrawn fmm the canvass. The letter iri the Enquirer was followed up by announcements in other Van Buren papers to the same effect.The lt;’alhoun papers deny that there is any truth in the rumors. The Washington Spectator remarks as follows:At all evenis. we feel authorized in saying to those who have been so busy in circulating liie rumor, or in adopting theM lion done IKill w hat 'Jt he ii Engl;Th-y and vhigh duties of his office, with the notorious exception of Mr. Cli ules Wickliffe. Postmaster General. This gentleman is mi official Rq, Van Winkle He lms been sound asleep tor the 1- st twenty years; and ii seems to need some louder no se than could be made by all liie tlmnders of the 11 a 11Z Mountains, to Wake him up to the spirit of Hie present age lie is evidently enough opposed to all rofonns, andni, nil- j ing shown independence in circumstancelavj requiring it,re-wanls no mollifications ol the pre JUst, liie qm.l, and luolisn Post .exct pi some additional p iius and penal-I r . ,r ,,, , , ,1-, ,, ! for them to aff.-ctties. He looks tqiott the Post-Office Establishment as a machine of extortion, instituted for grinding the people of the Untied States out of as much of their money as possible, lie takes the most narrow and ignorant' views of the subject, and seems to entertain a kind of spite against all those who have dared to disturb Ins somniferous disposition by demands for reform, lie presents the results of the operation of the Penny Postage system in tireat Britain in such a light, that doubts might he inferred of the expediency of its introduction here. The rap'd and wide emulation of knowledge and intelligence among ilie people, he seems to regard as ti matter of minor importance to any risk of paying expenses which might he inn ty a n duction of postage. Had Mr. Tyler hunted the country through lor the most inexperienced and incompetent petsun in it, lie could not have chosen more felicitously. We should he painedopinion, tint t the friends of the great Southern statesman have, or intend io withdraw him from the field of selection, they most sadlv deceived themselves. His friends act upon high and cnntrollmg princ'ples and great measuns, in supporting into; and until these are settled SatisfactotiIV_ they do not intend to yield to friend or foe.1'It is perhaps as well for he Spectator to talk in tins way, but it requires no gift of prophecy to predict that Mr Calhoun will not.be nominat-. d by the Locolbco (J.-n venlton—and that seeing hi w stibrmsstvi the Calhouuites in Congress were to the behests of the Van Buren caucus, they will not hesitate to“yield” to the requiri tnents of the National Convention. They m affect independence, and talk of “priuc.-pb-s” and “great measures”—hut not havalso wise iintenTilmust n the tdorn;'re is theseopeds the at heacted i wit-it will not lie found difficult saiisf.ction” at the s tlement of these “principles” and “measures” tis they shall lie made by the Van Burenites, and yield up every thing as they have already done in Congress.—la Jour.The deficit in the revenue of the past year, staled in tlie annu 1 mess ige of the President, has attracted the notice ot the Free Tradeis,and they triumphantly point to it as proof of the failure of the Tariff, and the necessity of a change of it: principles. They contend that a lowlt; scale of duties would have given a large revenue That is doubtful; hut suppose it were true, the importations to make would have been necessarily nearly doubled- What, then, would have been the ffect upon the country? Why, that theto have a hoy in our office, into whoso head ; heavy tie lit already due abroad would hav it-eems s.. very difficult to insinuate a sin- bcf;n lncre:lS(.dlt; and ilistead of lhe im ;lc enlightened idea.”trulyhe iss; but threene op-DVer a k cen--thenis in a e secne be-MEMORIAL FOR THE REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.To the Semite and House of Representatives if the United States.Th j undersigned, citizens .and payers of postage, respectfully repre.i-nt—1. Tliat the r ites of postage now imposed by the Government are exorbitant, oppressive to the people, anil calculated to defeat their avowed object of miking tne Post Office Department pay its ownxpeuses.2. That the franking privilege, as it is now authorized and exercised, is unjust, unequal, anti republican, and ought to he utterly abolished, exc pt as it may be expedient to allow it to cover the s'rioly official correspondence of the post office department itself.3. That not one third of the correspondence of the country now pays postage in the mails, nor will it until the rates of postage are greatly reduced, and the franking privilege abolished.4. That a uniform charge of five cents, in advance, on each letter weighing not more than half an ounce, and of five cents additional on every half ounce thereafter,proved and improving condition of our country, our cmbarrtissinen s would hav' been multiplied—the credit of the nation would have baen less sound—that of ttie States, whose securities have so rapidl risen in value, would certainly have been no better. Now, what is the deficit ol $5,000 000 compared with advantages like these? Why, in Virginia alone nearly half a million of dollars have been gained by tlie domestic holders of the Siate stock, from its appreciation in the market, We are plea-ed rather than discouraged at the result. It places us in a better con. dition all around—States, people, and corporations.That this deficit would continue under the tariff, with its principles unchanged, we do not believe. The improved condition of the country will cause an crease of importations, while the healthyeffect of the tariff will prevent the overstocking of lhe market through agencies of foreign manufacturers.Richmond Compiler.Tl)b: Iail:mm s m mengratipherO-jill,of tl soiled.1 can bis tear conIwillpar!Mr.ban
Newspaper Details
Logansport Wabash Gazette
Logansport, Indiana, US
Wed, Jan 03, 1844
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Abigail G.
NA, 18 Jun 2024
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