To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:
DEC
29
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Highland 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 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. |
| John McCoy | James Reece |
| George Craighead | George Houseman |
| Allen Hartman | Cornelius Roads |
| J. C. Horton | David Roads |
| D. D. Hewitt | S. H. Johnson |
| Nelson Hartman | A. W. Redkey |
| Daniel. F. Maddox | |
| J O [H ?] Spa[?] | Jno. Coleman |
| John. A Gossett | Daniel Redkey |
| J W Roads | Adam Redkey |
| M. W. Spargur | |
| William Wiley | John Cain |
| R. W. Spargur | |
| Brize Dunlap | James Redkey |
| J A. Weyer | Henry Mead |
| Levi Courtney | Thomas Courtney |
| Joseph Divel | H[enry?] [?]oaracers |
| Jacob Baker | T M Erskin |
| James Grady | Michael Mackerley |
| Allen Hughs | |
| Jacob Hoakers | J. C. Sharp |
| Hanson Ravenscroft | George Snider |
| John Davis | Jesse Miller |
| John Redkey | Henry Horeakers |
| B. L. Redkey | B. B. ummenseter |
| John Simson | John Taylor |
| E M Ravenscroft | Elias Simpson |
| J. B. Vanpelt | John Sivil |
| W. M. Senlo | Wm Snider |
| James G. Thurman | Johnathan W. Sparger |
| Stephen Hughs | George Taylor |
| Wm. H. McCoy | Abraham Taylor |
| Absalem Miller | Philip W Smalley |
| James. P. Garrett | Samuel B. Roads |
| A. A. Murdock | Wm H. Bou[?]tler |
| G [W?] Bull | James Ramsey |
| Jonas Edenfield | Daniel W[?] |
| Abram Taylor | Alfred W Spargur |
| John Pulse | John Blazer |
| Randolph Hughs | Samuel hugh |
| Wm. Fletcher | Lorain Apley |
| A. J. Beavers | Eli Fa[?]ey |
| Henry W S[?]arge | |
| H M Cool | Nathan Thurman |
| Thos Dunleys | Thomas W spargur |
| william Harvey | William Brown |
| Saml Brown | James H Russell |
| Asa Brown | Hugh Stevenson |
| Jacob Smith | |
| Samuel Riddle | [?] [gossett?] |
| John Stevens | |
| Lewis Mackerley | Edward L. Beeson |
| Seldon Beavers | Samuel C Burney |
| [L Clark Pearce?] | Benjamin Roads |
| S. P. Keyert[?] | John Pulse Jr |
| James H Barnett | Rusel Will[?]n |
| William Deakyns | John [?]h |
| Amos Sumner | James Waddel |
| John Penrod | Jacob Lindsay |
| William H Wise | |
| Peter Benoy | William S. Barrett |
| George Sharp | George W. Cain |
| James Greenfield | |
| Isaac Scammahorn Jn | |
| John Boyd | James M Cool |
| David Pummel | |
| Jacob Redkey | |
| Harrison Matheny | |
| C. H. Williams | |
| Robt Waddel | |
| Reubin Hughs | |
| Jacob Cooper | |
| Nathan Rohle | |
| John Luzader | |
| Jacob Luzader | |
| James McCoy |
<Page 2>
[?]CINN[?]TI O.DEC
29
PAID
3
Jno McCoy Rainsboro Highland Co O[ docketing
]
A petition from the [132?] citizens of Highland County Ohio praying the equalising of the postage on newspapers
[ docketing
]
Referred to the Committee on Post Offices and post roads
[ docketing
]
Mr Morris
[ docketing
]
Ohio
[ docketing
]
A petition of Citizens of Highland County Ohio asking Congress to reduce the postage
on Juvenile newspapers
Morris
Morris
[ docketing
]
February 2 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads
[ docketing
]
Referred to Committee on Post office & post roads
[ docketing
]
184[7?]
[ docketing
]
Morris
<Page 3>
Rainsboro O
Jany 11th
Jany 11th
free
Hon. J D Morris M CWashington CityD C
Partially Printed Document Signed, 3 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