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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Cuyahoga in the state of Ohio, respectfully represent the great inequality now prevailing in the rates of postage on newspapers, the smallest being chargeable with the highest rates.
Whereas, the principle of size and weight is now adopted in the laws of the United States as the basis of post-office charges; and, whereas, newspapers not exceeding 1900 square inches are chargeable at the rate of 1 cent for 100 miles, and 1½ cents for all greater distances, if without the state in which they are published; your petitioners would urge the importance of reducing said charges at least ONE HALF on all papers not containing more than 500 square inches.
Your petitioners represent that, within a few years past, numerous juvenile papers have sprung up in different sections of the United States, for the instruction of the young in the science, morals, and religion, which papers are now extensively patronized by children, who, notwithstanding these papers are usually not one quarter the size or weight allowed by law, have to pay on them the same postage that is charged on the largest sheets that pass through the mails. Besides the manifest injustice of this regulation, your petitioners represent that many thousands of children and youth are deterred from subscribing to these useful papers solely by the comparatively excessive postage chargeable on the small sheets they desire to obtain.
A reduction, therefore, of postage, in favor of juvenile newspapers of small dimensions, would not only tend greatly to diffuse knowledge and piety, the bulwarks of our national prosperity, but would increase the revenues of the post-office department.
For an immediate and proportionate reduction of postage, therefore, on all newspapers not containing more than 500 square inches, your petitioners respectfully and urgently pray.
NAMES. NAMES.
Israel Haynes
F. T. Adams Olmsted Ohio R. Sheldon Berea O
Pliny [?]man Berea R. N. Sheldon ""
A. [I?]. Wallace
George C. Hubbard Esq J D Sheldon
Alfred Henry Smith R Patterson
M. Sheldon
Ashbel Buttolph C M Taft
John Baily A Crow
Theodore Wight H Baldwin
Augustus Fisk L B Perkins
John. Scripte[?]
Caleb Patteson Geog. McKillips
J S Graves George Moore
Hiram B. Chappel George S Curtiss
D Dodge Matilda Douglas
Francis Douglas
Melissa. Holbrook
N M Chapman Jane C Breakenridge.
A Holbrook Maria Poe
Horatio Coe Fanny Hulet
Fletcher Hulet Martha W Hulet
G M Hulet Margaret E Hulet
Milton Baldwin Clarrisa S Hulet
Elisha Draper L A Holbrook
A. M. Noyes L. A. Chapman
Stephen Squire H. E Bevans
F. B. Fournier Juliett Bevans
Austin. B. Fuller Cynthia E Douglas
W H Wight J Elizabeth Douglas
Edward Y Sheldon Adam Willis
Henry Bevans
Alex. McBride
Tho. D. Miller.
Nathan Douglas
Ann E. Douglas
Alline Douglas
Chas Douglas
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PAID
CINCI[?]TI O.
DEC 2[9?]
3Berea Sunday SchoolBereaCuyahogaOhio
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Ohio
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Israel Haynes & 103 other Citizens of Cuyohoga Cy praying reduction of postage
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February 1 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
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Come on post offices & post roads
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Mr Giddings

Partially Printed Document Signed, 2 page(s), RG 233, Entry 367: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to Committees, 1847-1849, NAB