SENATE.]

Reduction of Postage.

[DECEMBER 31, 1832.

proposed bill of the Senator from Maine, (Mr. HOLMES.) the public burdens. He believed the Post Office De He could not tell that any thing was likely to be gained in partment would sustain itself, and would at last intrench intelligence from the members who were going out of itself so strongly as to be out of the reach of even the that body. They would, in all probability, be regarded power of Congress itself. Several calls had already been as politically dead, defunct, and would soon be forgotten. made to which no answers had been returned. As to the The gentleman from Maine might be considered as gone tariff, he saw no connexion between that and the present forever beyond all hope. As for himself, he had yet a resolution. The resolution might have the effect of glimmering hope remaining; it might, perhaps, like many checking the department; and to check it, he would go other of the hopes of that side the House, end in disap- still further, and put an end to the practice of making pointment; but however that might be, he trusted the extra allowances to contractors. There was enough exSenate might be able to get along tolerably well without pended in the department to diffuse information through him. He had frequent business at the Post Office De- all the country. He was in favor of the resolution, and partment, and generally found members of Congress against the amendment, and he hoped nothing would be there. It sometimes happened that a contractor took it done to give the resolution the go by. into his head that it would be more to his interest to Mr. HOLMES said, the Chairman of the Committee on carry a mail three times a week, than to take it twice; the Post Office and Post Roads had talked of dissatisfacand he accordingly prevailed on the member of Congress tion. What did he mean by dissatisfaction? The counfrom his district to go to the department and express the try was in the hey-day of prosperity: all the wishes of expediency of the change. The next year the same con- the other side of the House had been gratified. Was tractor may have discovered that he can make still more there any dissatisfaction there? We, said Mr. H., on this by having a daily mail. The member of Congress is side of the House, do not complain, although we have again called upon, and the contractor being a man of in- been whipped abominably twice. There is no dissatisfluence must have his wishes gratified. The Posmaster faction on this side. The gentleman from Tennessee has General ought to be armed with some weapon to defend got his President, and his Vice President, and his Cabihimself against these attacks. He might now say that the net, yet he talks of dissatisfaction. resources of the department would not permit this in; The gentleman at the head of the Committee on the creased expenditure; but let the treasury once be open Post Office and Post Roads says this is an unmanageable ed to the department and the member of Congress, and department. Upon my soul, I believe so. Since he the contractor would soon find it out, and there would no and I have been together on the committee, I believe it longer be a limit to applications and to expenditures. has been found to be unmanageable. I will insist further, There would, in fact, be no other check than a money from being unmanageable it may have become a malimitation; and the navy and army would not cost the naging department and whenever we find we have a country more than the Post Office Department might, and managing department, we should keep it constantly in would, if the barrier between it and the treasury were to our view. This department has great power to manage, be removed. while it is irresponsible. What is the cause of prodigality in a servant? Irresponsibility. Why does a servant squander the property of his master? Because he is not responsible. The conclusion is inevitable. Whenever you trust a man with untold gold, he will usually tell out a tolerable quantity to himself. I make no charge, but merely point to the conclusion. It is a general maxim, an axiom in Government, that while you hold officers to responsibility, they will be found prudent; but when you relax the responsibility, they will become prodiga'. There are, it is true, some men who will be economical without responsibility. The Chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads thinks my case beyond all hope. I think it is so; I have declined. Some say

The gentleman from Connecticut was very anxious for a reduction of the postage because Major Barry had not answered before the end of the year the call made by that Senator at the last session. Was there any force in that argument? The object of the resolution was to ascertain the amount of the expenditures on account of the mail in each State. Now, because that call had not been answered, the Senator from Connecticut would reduce the rates of postage. He must confess that he did not quite understand this logic. If that resolution had been answered, and it had been shown that the State of Connecticut paid more of this tax than Kentucky, which had twice her population, here would have been a theme for an argument most grateful to Connecticut, and which the my popularity declined first, and I declined afterwards. Senator would doubtless have made good use of. But Perhaps I and my popularity both declined together. there was another little matter which the Senator would Now the gentleman from Tennessee has not declined. probably not have touched upon. He would have left low stands it with his popularity? Have they kept pace the subject of the expenditures in Connecticut in ships, together? I have taken no part against his re-election, and harbors, and light-houses, to have been disclosed by although it has been said that he is as cunning as a fox. some other Senator. Yet, if all things were taken into But if we get another in his room, I am afraid it will be view, if all expenditures were balanced, there would ap- getting out of the frying pan into the fire. The gentlepear to be nothing unjust nor unfair. The popular plan man had said, that he would not make the post office a was to point out to any particular section something in charge on the treasury, lest the opportunity for lavish which they appeared to be oppressed, without making expenditures should be abused by an improvident extenthe view general; and thus to excite discontent against sion of the post roads. If the gentleman were to carry the Government. These remarks, however, had no ap- that principle through, he would not go far with this plication to the tariff, which, in his opinion, formed a just administration. The gentleman would not permit the exception every where to the observation. Postmaster General to have unbounded resources, because Mr. FOOT said, the gentleman from Tennessee seemed he would not then have the excuse, when pressed by ap to think that there was no relevance between the call plicants, that the funds were insufficient. Needs he such which he had made at the last session and the present an excuse? Are not the men to whom these high offices resolution. That Senator, however, had attached an are entrusted, men so firm that they can refuse when importance to the call which it had never possessed before, their duty requires it? He would give the Postmaster in his estimation. That gentleman knew nothing of Con- General power, presuming that he would never want an necticut; it was not a complaining State, although there excuse for the performance of his duty. If a political was perhaps as much intelligence diffused over it as over friend asked him for an increase of compensation, he any other State of the Union. The people there never would not, if a correct and faithful officer, hesitate to remade complaints, but cheerfully bore their proportion of fuse. Let the responsibility be increased; and if the

JANUARY 2, 1833.]

Spanish Claimants.

[SENATE.

officer abuses the means intrusted to him, Congress Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be would have the power to apply a corrective. If the course instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing once suggested here had not been also arrested here, none the means by which the claimants under the late treaty of these allowances to contractors would have been heard with France can obtain the evidence of documents relatof; but the responsibility would have been found effectual. He would hold every officer to his responsibility. Mr. GRUNDY asked for the yeas and nays on the passage of his amendment; and a sufficient number sustaining the call, the yeas and nays were ordered.

ing to their claims, when such evidence and documents have been presented to the commissioners under the late treaty with Spain, and are deposited in the State Department. Mr. HOLMES introduced the resolution with some Mr. BIBB made some remarks in opposition to the remarks, and stated that the commissioners acting unresolution; in the course of which he adverted to the der the treaty with Spain had, after the termination of fact that a merchant in Kentucky having got for himself their labors, lodged the papers in the Department of the situation of postmaster, had thereby saved to himself State, as was supposed for the purpose of allowing to in postage two hundred dollars, which was more than the the Spanish Government access to these documents, in amount of all the other postage in his office, as he kept up case of need. He referred to the case of a friend, whose a considerable correspondence for the benefit of his busi- bill had been before the Spanish Commissioners, and had ness. There the postage tax fell on those who best been rejected, on the ground that the capture was made could bear it. He went on to show that this was gene- by a French vessel. Through him (Mr. H.) this gentleman rally the case. He considered it a matter of great labor had made application to the State Department to procure and intricacy, requiring elaborate calculation, to arrange his papers: but owing to the construction which the Sea perfect scheme of reduction of postage, adapted to all cretary had put upon his duties, it was found impossible distances; and doubted whether the post office itself to obtain them. The case having been taken out of the could furnish the materials for such calculation. He con- hands of the Spanish Commissioners by the rejection of tended that the present tax was not oppressive on any the claim, the papers could be of no future use to the one, but that it operated as every fair tax ought to ope- Spanish Government, and ought to be returned to the rate. At the last session he had expressed his opinions claimant. on the subject of the reduction of the newspaper postMr. WEBSTER admitted that cases of individual inage: those opinions had undergone no change. He then convenience might have occurred, like that which was adverted to our rapidly increasing population; settle- referred to by the gentleman from Maine, but he had ments were extending themselves; and the voice of jus- never anticipated that it would be thought necessary to tice, in a tone not to be resisted, demanded that the Go-invoke the action of Congress. It was provided by the vernment should carry into those new settlements the treaty with Spain, that the documents should be deposibenefits which were already enjoyed in the old. This ted in the Department of State. There would conseconstantly increases the expenditures of the department; quently be some delicacy in interfering with this provithe expenditures must continue to increase, as the ramifi- sion. He considered that the whole of the difficulty had cations of the system are extended into all parts of the arisen from the narrow construction which had been country. It should be the aim of Congress to keep the given to the term State Department. There was no preexpenditures of the department, as nearly as possible, cise locality to be attached to the term. It merely meant within the receipts, avoiding at the same time that mi- that the papers should be left in the custody of the Exnuteness of legislation which entailed more cost upon ecutive. He could not decide whether the doubts of the country than the subject was worth. The Postmas- the gentleman at the head of the department were well ter General felt himself bound to keep the cost of all his or ill founded, but there could be no impropriety in makimprovements within the means of the department. If ing use of the papers, while they were under the conthis check were taken away, and he was permitted to trol of the department. It might not be correct to give come to Congress, he would be unable to resist the them up to any individual, but an inspection of them temptations which would surround him. Experience under the charge of some officer of the Government, every where had proved, that the Post Office Depart-to whom they were intrusted, would be the kind of fament can only be beneficially managed by subjecting it cility which would not come in conflict with the meanto this check; and the moment it is removed, the advan- ing of the treaty. He was certain that the Secretary tages of the system are destroyed. Dr. Franklin esta- of State would be ready to render every accommodablished the department on a small scale: it had from tion which he regarded as being within the range of his that time been extending itself to keep pace with the duty.

extension of the country; but it had always been kept Mr. HOLMES repeated what he had said concerning within this check, and he would not be willing to break the difficulty he had found in obtaining what he wished. in upon it, because we should inevitably have to return His object now was the institution of an inquiry which to it. Whenever a specific scheme of reduction should would lead to some arrangement between the Committee be presented for consideration, he would be glad to exa- on Foreign Relations and the Secretary. He referred to mine it; but he was not one for rashly uprooting every a correspondence which he had had with the Secretary. thing. He was not one who, to obtain a favorite point, He had asked if the claimants could have the papers. would throw every thing into confusion. He would not, The answer was "No." He then asked if the commisto get rid of an imagined wrong, go into a convention of sioners could obtain them, and received also a negative all the States, frame a new constitution, and throw every reply. thing into chaos. So it was in regard to the post office. He would keep it within the checks with which it had always been surrounded, and not, by a rash inundation of means, render it a rank source of corruption, instead of a department useful to the country.

The Senate then adjourned to Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2, 1833.

SPANISH CLAIMANTS.

Mr. HOLMES offered the following resolution:

Mr. SPRAGUE reminded the Senate, that when the act of Congress was under consideration, he had offered an amendment with a view to meet cases of the precise character of that which had now occurred. It was then stated by those who had the views of the department, that it was unnecessary, and that the fourth section made ample provision. Such was the opinion of the department, and such also was the opinion of the Senate. Now, it was found that there was a diffi. culty; and it was proper that there should be some inquiry. The resolution was then agreed to.

SENATE.]

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

is the department enabled to render all this gratuitous service? The answer is obvious. The postage which is reThe Senate resumed the consideration of Mr. SPRAGUE'S ceived on private letters, over and above the fair cost of resolution on the subject of the reduction of postage. their transmission, pays also for the transportation of these Mr. EWING said, that, when this resolution was offer-official letters and documents; or, in other words, those ed by his friend from Maine, he did not himself suppose who write and receive private letters pay a tax for so dothat the opinion of the committee was such as required ing to the amount of $500,000 annually. Now, I do not these special instructions in order to attain the object in deny, that, in cases of great national emergency, when all view. I was well aware (said Mr. E.) that, at the last the resources of the country are required to be called session, a majority of the committee was opposed to a forth, that these also ought to contribute what it may to reduction of the rates of postage; but, since that time, sustain the Government; but surely the transmission of one of its members has ceased to be a member of this knowledge, the transmission of letters of business or of body, and the Senator from Missouri (Mr. BUCKNER) has friendship from one part of the Union to another, should been placed on the committee in his stead. But, since be among the last subjects of taxation to which we should that gentleman has expressed his opinion here so deci resort. It is not true, in fact, as has been suggested, that it dedly adverse to the proposed reduction, it is clear that is the rich who read and write, and therefore pay this tax; there is the same majority as formerly against it in the and if it were true, it forms no substantial argument in its facommittee; and that, if we have any action on the sub-vor. But the fact is distinctly otherwise: it is to the rich, or ject there, it must come to us charged with instructions those who are comparatively so, that letters, papers, and from the Senate. I, sir, have been, and still am, in favor public documents are sent under official franks, and for of some reduction, and some modification in our rates of the transportation of which those who write and receive postage. I am satisfied that justice and sound policy private letters pay. The man of business pays a large require it; nor do I think that the efficiency of the depart- amount of postage, but it is repaid to him by those who ment, or the fiscal concerns of the country, will be inju- employ him; and the merchant charges his postage as a riously affected by such a measure, if it be judiciously part of the cost of his goods, and his customers pay it; so executed. that at last this burden falls, like most others, upon the mass of the people.

The Senator from Missouri furthest to my left (Mr. BENTON) was right in saying that a reduction of impost In addition to this, the poorest portion of our commuis not always a reduction of revenue. It would not be nity, even the day-laborer who has emigrated from the so here, to the full extent: for, by lessening the postage old to the new States, and who has left parents or friends on letters, you will increase their number; and pack-behind him, pays now a tax to the Government for the ages, also, which, at the present rates of postage, seek privilege of reading or having read to him the news from other modes of conveyance, would be forwarded by mail, his native place, or the simple effusions of parental or fraif it could be done at a reasonable cost. I agree, also, ternal love. Justice, it is true, requires that he should with that gentleman, in the opinion that there is an un-pay the reasonable cost of transmission; but in the present reasonable discrimination between single and double let-state of our finances, there is no reason why he should be ters; and, at the last session, I suggested (in committee) charged beyond it. The same rule applies to all, whata modification which was intended to remove the inequality, but it was not acted on. A letter written upon a large sheet of 'cap paper pays twenty-five cents postage if carried four hundred miles. If it be written on but half a sheet of paper, no matter how thin and light, and contains a separate scrap of paper, however small, it pays double; if it contains two bank notes, which do not add perceptibly to its weight, it pays treble pos age. Now there is no gool reason for this, the bandage (to use a term of art) on each letter is the same, the weight of the double or treble letter is often much less than that of the single one, and yet it pays twice or three times as much. This is manifestly unj ust, and requires correction.

From this concurrence of opinions as to the premises, I confidently expected that the Senator from Missouri would arrive at the same conclusion with myself; but in this I was mistaken. I will not quarrel with his logic, though I cannot assent to its correctness.

ever be their condition. The transmission of intelligence, the interchange of opinions and affections between individuals in different sections of the Union, should be countenanced rather than discouraged; and a tax imposed upon these, for any purpose, except in cases of necessity, is injudicious. If I be right in this, and if the chairman. be right in his view which he exhibited of the state of the department, the postage ought to be reduced in the aggregate about $500,000--the sum which appears to be levied through the department for the use of the Government.

I cannot concur with gentlemen who think that it would occasion extravagance of expenditures, if the department were permitted to receive through the treasury any por. tion of its support. The honorable chairman has said, that, of all the departments of the Government, this is the most unmanageable. If, by this, he means the least responsible, I concur with him. Sir, there is more than two I was not a little struck with the views of the Senator millions of dollars annually received there, and disbursed, from Kentucky, [Mr. BIBB.] That gentleman moved a we know not how. It is true, we are told in the reports resolution at the last session to abolish the duty on news- of the Postmaster General that this aggregate sum, or papers: he is still in favor of that proposition, but is unwil-near it, is expended in the transmission of the mails; but ling to leave the matter, or reduction generally, to the the precise manner is not at all disclosed to us. We know committee: it were, he says, intrusting them with too ex-not how much is sunk in affording those unreasonable fatensive powers. He therefore goes for the amendment cilities which the honorable chairman says are so often which instructs them to inquire into the expediency of asked, and are pressed for with such earnestness that they reducing, and thereby leaves their powers wholly unli- can be limited only by limiting the means of the departmited. ment. How much in extra allowances to contractors, and The facts communicated by the honorable chairman of how much in changes of contracts from hand to hand, on the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads furnish terms disadvantageous to the Government! We know nostrong reasons for the adoption of this resolution. He thing of this, nor can we ever know, while the present tells us, and I rely implicitly on his authority, that the de-system remains untouched, and the committee unchanged." partment now not only sustains itself with its own income, As a matter of theory, the Committee on the Post Office but that it performs services for the United States to the and Post Roads, to which I belong, have a right to inquire value of more than $500,000 yearly in the transmission of into these things; and if there be improvidence and waste, official letters and documents free of postage. Now, how or misapplication of the funds of the department, to dis

JANUARY 2, 1833.]

Reduction of Postage.

[SENATE.

close it to this body, that it may be exposed to the public. vorable to the object, it would be easy to move to refer But our excellent chairman, tender of the labor of some that report to the Judiciary Committee, where its errors of his committee, and prodigal of his own, has been a kind might be revised and corrected. The other mode was to of middle man between us and the department, and has introduce a bill on leave, stating the amount and mode of dealt out to us just so much information as he considered reduction; that bill would be sent to the committee, and if salutary and suitable for us to receive. Over and again they reported against it, their report would come up behas it been attempted in this body to look into the affairs of fore the Senate, where it would be reversed if wrong, and the department, but always has the honorable chairman confirmed if right. He was prepared to vote for the amendextended his broad agis over them, and all beneath has ment, or he was willing to refer the subject to a select combeen thus far sheltered by its ample shade. In truth, sir, mittee, for the purpose of inquiry, but he was not prepared as long as this department shall be sustained entirely by to set up his opinion against that of the committee. If its own receipts, without resort to the treasury, there will he was in possession of sufficient data, he would have no be an indisposition here to scrutinize its disbursements. objection to vote for a peremptory instruction. And it is unsafe, and contrary to the whole theory of our Mr. BUCKNER commenced a series of observations Government, to intrust to any officer the disbursement of by disclaiming all sectional feelings and views, which he large sums of the public money without accountability, declared he had never allowed to influence his opinions and without scrutiny. I bring no charge against the pre- and actions, and he hoped he never should. On the consent head of this department. I rest my views on general trary, he was in favor of every thing, the tendency of principles, and hold it most certain that if there be not which was to promote the interests of the whole. The now waste and mismanagement there, there will be; for it is hasty remarks which he had made when this subject was inherent in the very nature of the system, as it now exists. before the Senate on a former day, had not been dictated But, sir, if the rates of postage were so modified that by a spirit of envy or jealousy. In reference to the effect the department must resort to the treasury annually for a which this resolution would have on the interests of the sum about equivalent to the value of the services which West, he had spoken of it as unreasonable that the memit renders, (and I would not consent to go beyond this bers from that section of country should vote for a propopoint,) the amount and the manner of its expenditures sition which bore injuriously upon their own constituents; would become a subject of investigation before the com- but he merely intended by these observations to stand by mittees of Congress. We always realize the fact that the the interests of those he represented, as other gentlemen money in the treasury is the public money, while the pub- from other sections of the country would feel disposed to lic money in the hands of the Postmaster General is, I do. He had stated that he was opposed to a resolution know not why, looked upon as the money of the depart- which compelled the West to pay the postage of the East. ment. There would, therefore, be more restraint and So far from intending an appeal to the West, it was his less danger of extravagant expenditures in that, than in object to address himself to the generosity of the East, the existing state of things. and to invoke their feelings of magnanimity in aid of his Mr. KANE then rose to state his objections to the reso- views. He did not desire the West to be influenced by lution in the form in which it was offered by the Senator sordid prejudices; but that the East should be actuated from Maine. In that form it gave no discretion to the by noble views. The Senator from Maine had sad that committee to deviate from the peremptory instructions of he was desirous to diffuse knowledge and dispel ignothe resolution. It did not give the power to inquire into rance. He also was willing to diffuse knowledge and disany abuses which might exist; it gave none to equalize pel ignorance; but he would not put his hand in another the rates of postage. What, in fact, was it? The original man's pocket for the purpose of showing his charity. He resolution directs the committee to bring in a bill nolens would not put his arm, up to the elbow, into the treavolens, and without saying why, to reduce the rates of sury, to display his kindness to any particular part of the postage. And the Senate were now called on to say, not whether the committee should go into an inquiry on the subject, but whether the rates of postage should be reduced or not. He said that he was not prepared to give his vote on a question of so much importance.

Union, How was this proposition to be considered? The gentleman from Maine propo ed, not that every man should pay for his own learning,, but that the poor and honest yeomanry should be taxed in order to accommodate the rest of the community. Was this the way to He admitted that there was one point on which all seem- diffuse knowledge? Every man ought to pay for what ed to agree. If the rates of postage could be reduced he received; and to tax another for it was unjust. If the consistently with the means of the department, and with-East paid the greatest share of the tax, it was because it out embarrassing its operations in any degree, all were had the greatest share of advantage. He who received willing that the reduction should take place. And there the greatest benefit cught to pay the greatest share of was a class of Senators who were willing to make the re- the cost.

ductions, even if the operations of the department could He went on to state that where there was most traffic be carried on with the assistance of the treasury. He did there was the greatest necessity for the information circunot belong to the latter class, although he was one of those lated through the post office, and there the greatest who agreed that if the rates could be reduced without em- amount of postage should be paid. The East had the barrassing the means of the department, it ought to be greatest share of trade, and if it was taxed the most heavidone. But unless he was prepared to admit that the ad-Ïy, it was to pay for its own postage, and not the postage ministration of the department hitherto had been corrupt, of the West. He expressed his regret that any proposiand its expenditures characterized by profligacy, he tion should be introduced at this time, the tendency of could not vote for the resolution in its original form. Be- which was to increase the agitations which now disturbed cause the committee at the last session had come to the the country. While he was one who would not add to conclusion that there ought to be no reduction of the rates the present excitement, he would not be induced to reof postage, it had been contended that there was no way frain from taking every step necessary for the public inleft but to give a peremptory instruction to report a bill. terest, but, at the same time, he would not sanction the He was not prepared, unless without further investiga-introduction of new schemes. He was not one of those tion, to set up his opinion against those of the committee, who imagined that any great danger now beset the Union, whose attention had been long and sedulously addressed or that the moment had arrived when this fair fabric of to the subject. It was easy for gentlemen to get at their human wisdom was about to be destroyed; for he looked object, and it might be done in one of two ways: in the to the operation of a redeeming principle which existed first place, if the committee should make a report unfa-l in it. He relied, in a great measure, on the chief mag

SENATE.]

Reduction of Postage.

trate, who had sworn to support, and who would maintain pacific in its character, has been assailed by a most exthe constitution; and most of all, he relied on the patriot-traordinary course of argument. Its friends have been ism of the people; but he was not disposed to throw an charged with an almost treasonable conspiracy to keep additional firebrand to destroy the harmony of the coun- on the tariff, and to continue the present price of the try. There were two great objects which seemed to be public lands. We have been directly informed, that the kept in view by one of the great parties, to prevent any tariff and this price must come down; that we are not to reduction of the tariff duties, and to keep up the price flinch from it, for the people demand it. Sir, does the of the public lands. One part of the country was op- resolution on your table, when duly considered, touch posed to the first measure, and another section to the last. either of those subjects? or are we justly chargeable It was not to be expected that members from the South with aggravating the excitement of this too much agitatedTM Why, Mr. President, so far as honorable genand the West, who believed the salvation of the Union country? depended on the reduction of the tariff, and the price of tlemen have given us their views on the proposition, the public lands, would vote for any of those measures which most of them, and some from the far West too, are friendthrew additional burdens on the treasury. Such were ly to the reduction of the postage, if it can be safely made. his views; and no ingenuity, no argum nt, no sophistry, Why then should a plain question of practical expedienwould induce him to move from the course which his duty cy be distracted in its discussion, by imputations of hosSir, no Senator His mind was made up. It tility to the wishes of a part of the country in the matters enjoined on him to pursue. was unnecessary for him to disguise himself; the time had of the tariff and the public lands? come when the tariff and the price of public lands must will be driven from his duty; no one, it is hoped, means be reduced; and all the schemes to keep them up to their to evade the tariff question, or flinch in the discharge of The tariff must and his official obligations, when it comes up for our delibepresent scale could not succeed. would come down; and they could not consent to put the ration. But, said Mr. F., all we ask is, that it may wait It was necessary to see its time; and not that it should embarrass all our legislapublic lands on the treasury. where retrenchment could be made, in order that all un- tion, and be raised up, by way of terror, against any and every measure that, by its own distinct merits, claims our necessary burdens might be abolished. distinct consideration,

the East.

Returning to the subject of the post office, he said it Then, sir, as it regards the resolution now before us, might be true that the East paid more for the facilities afBut suppose it is worthy of notice, that the present rates of postage forded by the post office than the West. it were so; were there not other points where the East have been established for more than twenty years. The received more than a quid pro quo? was this no consider- great increase of commercial business, and of the literary, ation? The greater part of the pension money was ex-political, and friendly intercourse of our fellow-citizens pended there. True, it was said, there was more patriot in that period, have vastly augmented the powers and ism, more industry, in that part of the country, and it enlarged the means of this department. I should proWe are also to take might be so. The West made no complaint; but how bably be on this side of the fact, to set down these remany citizens of Missouri, or of Indiana, were employed sources at an increase of tenfold? by the Government, or supported by the public treasury? into our reflections another incident: that in the princiThe advantages of the post office to the West were more pal commercial routes of the mail, from Boston through than compensated by the greater advantages enjoyed by to Baltimore for example, the cost of transportation has not advanced a dollar in all the time of the present rates; The gentleman from Ohio had said that the committee nay indeed, sir, by the facilities of steamboat carriage, held the same opinions on the subject of reduction now, it has sensibly diminished. Then I submit it to the calm which they held last year. How the gentleman came to discretion of the Senate, whether the occasion has not this conclusion, he did not know. This was not the same reached us, when it is fit, and a most appropriate duty, proposition as was before the committee last year. There to give attention to the strong claims of those who chiefly But it has been urged in opposition to the measure, was a great difference between taking the postage from endure this burden, and extend some seasonable relief? newspapers and reducing the postage on letters. By the adoption of this resolution, the Senate did not ask the that we shall thereby cripple the department, and that committee if it was necessary to reduce the rates, but they the Postmaster General should not be restricted in his decided that it was necessary, and that they should be re-operations. This argument, said Mr. F., is pressed too duced. No discretion whatever was allowed to the com- far. When it is seen from the report of the head of this mittee, although they would be enabled to give that department, that during a single year, and that the last, information which would satisfy the Senaté as to the pro- the travel of the mail has been increased exceeding priety of reduction. He desired to send the subject to 8,156,000 miles, while it reflects great credit upon the the committee, and, after they had reported, the Senate activity and promptitude of the department, yet Mr. He President, do not such numbers as these justify the opicould dispose of the report as they might decide. considered the views taken by the Senator from Ohio, of nion, in the view of the heavy rates of postage, that the oppressiveness of this tax upon the poor man, by some restriction may be not only quite safe but very compelling him to pay a portion of the Government postage, to be a fallacious one, The burden fell very lightly on the poor man, who did not get a letter once in six months; the poor well understood the matter; they had both heads and hearts; they knew when they asked for a fish, and received a stone.

prudent?

Again: we are told that the post office must not be made a drain upon the treasury, but be left to sustain itself. This plea is fallacious, and the mere magic of phrases may mislead us.

Sir, what is intended by the department sustaining Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN said the resolution of his honor- itself? It has no means but those furnished by taxation. able friend from Maine submitted to the opinion of the It is the people that sustain the department: and thereSenate the simple proposition, that the rates of postage fore, when in our judgment the amount of support af ought to be reduced. It prescribed, neither the mode, forded becomes greater than the just wants of public amount, nor time of reduction; but in the present condi- convenience, or the fair and equal proportion of burdens tion of the Post Office Department, with all its facilities that should be assessed upon those who pay-why, if, and receipts, the resolution sought of the Senate an ex- notwithstanding this, gentlemen mean, by sustaining itself, pression favorable to some alleviation of a very onerous that it is to use up all the funds that flow into it, be they We must look beyond the and unequal tax upon the business part of the communi- what they may, sir, all must feel that such an argument ty. Yet, Mr. President, this proposition, so general and is without weight or reason.