Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:—
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Fredrick in the state of Maryland , 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 1 1-2 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.

W^m S Ervin Asa. Bow Lee S

Hiram Ridgely [Lingan Boteler?]

Jesse Herbert William H. Young

Perry J Levy Sam L [Geesinger?]

Jacob Cullen Wm [Little?]

Jnô T Brown

Adam Lorentz John Young of P

Benj. W. Zimmerman Jacob Thomas

Benj. H. Pettingall Jacob Lorentz

John Thomson John Lorentz

John Kesselring R. P. Thomas

Isaac Michael N. E, Gilds

Horace Holland Jo^s Wise

Isaac [?] Bowles

Jacob Nickel

Jacob Weaver. Cha^s [S?]. [Barr?]

Jnô Appleman Daniel Keller

Samuel Yaste Thomas [Springer?]

Alexander Weaver James Wright

Jacob Barr Geo. Rhinehart

Henry Crone. John Richardson

J Harrold Beckwith Benjamin Ramsburg

C. F. McCauley James Williamson

Joseph [Learer?] David Keller

Henry Chrone (Jn^r) John Delawder

Henry M. [Hook?] John Young of C

John Coblentz of P M M [Haileigh?]

Elias Coblentz George S. Harbaugh

Peter Young of P Charles P Young

Peter W. Coblentz Jno. [Vamendar?]

John M Linthicum James [Vamendar?]

S, G, Harbaugh J Blakely Geisinger

Geo L [Routery?] Peter Young

Perry Rhodrick Jacob Lorentz Jûr

George Geisinger Joseph Lorentz

George Ingram James Chamberlain

James [Clusner?] Hiram Park

George Kuhn Joshua Corrick

H L Brady Ignatius Whitter

William Welker Thomas Merchant

Nathaniel Vanfosen Adam Routzahn

John Alexander Henry Thomas

Jôs Powers Jacob [Sphon?]

Ja^s Stevans Hezekiah Floyd

Christian [Bolinger?] Townsend Barber

Jo^s Ridgely Eli Koogler

Philip Sheffer Philip Dare

Geo Kesselring Jacob Smith

John [White?] Henry G [Bradley?]

W^m Brent Rev. D. [Bittle?]

Jacob Appleman Rev. Tho^s Fulton John Thompson

Geo Bowles Rev R Crooks

[mar 221?]

<Page 2>
NEW-[Y]ORK
DEC 23
PAID
3 ctsMr W^m ErvinMiddletownFred CoMd

[ docketing ]
Md
Memorial of William S. Ervin and 100 other citizens of the county of Frederick Maryland praying for a reduction of postage

[ docketing ]
February 8, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads

[ docketing ]
Presented by H. C. Murphy

[ docketing ]
Murphy

NAMES.	NAMES.
W^m S Ervin	Asa. Bow Lee S
Hiram Ridgely	[Lingan Boteler?]
Jesse Herbert	William H. Young
Perry J Levy	Sam L [Geesinger?]
Jacob Cullen	Wm [Little?]
Jn^o T Brown
Adam Lorentz	John Young of P
Benj. W. Zimmerman	Jacob Thomas
Benj. H. Pettingall	Jacob Lorentz
John Thomson	John Lorentz
John Kesselring	R. P. Thomas
Isaac Michael	N. E, Gilds
Horace Holland	Jo^s Wise
Isaac [?] Bowles
Jacob Nickel
Jacob Weaver.	Cha^s [S?]. [Barr?]
Jn^o Appleman	Daniel Keller
Samuel Yaste	Thomas [Springer?]
Alexander Weaver	James Wright
Jacob Barr	Geo. Rhinehart
Henry Crone.	John Richardson
J Harrold Beckwith	Benjamin Ramsburg
C. F. McCauley	James Williamson
Joseph [Learer?]	David Keller
Henry Chrone (Jn^r)	John Delawder
Henry M. [Hook?]	John Young of C
John Coblentz of P	M M [Haileigh?]
Elias Coblentz	George S. Harbaugh
Peter Young of P	Charles P Young
Peter W. Coblentz	Jno. [Vamendar?]
John M Linthicum	James [Vamendar?]
S, G, Harbaugh	J Blakely Geisinger
Geo L [Routery?]	Peter Young
Perry Rhodrick	Jacob Lorentz J^ur
George Geisinger	Joseph Lorentz
George Ingram	James Chamberlain
James [Clusner?]	Hiram Park
George Kuhn	Joshua Corrick
H L Brady	Ignatius Whitter
William Welker	Thomas Merchant
Nathaniel Vanfosen	Adam Routzahn
John Alexander	Henry Thomas
J^os Powers	Jacob [Sphon?]
Ja^s Stevans	Hezekiah Floyd
Christian [Bolinger?]	Townsend Barber
Jo^s Ridgely	Eli Koogler
Philip Sheffer	Philip Dare
Geo Kesselring	Jacob Smith
John [White?]	Henry G [Bradley?]
W^m Brent	Rev. D. [Bittle?]
Jacob Appleman	Rev. Tho^s Fulton	John Thompson
Geo Bowles	Rev R Crooks
[mar 221?]