Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

To the Honorable, the Senate & House of Representatives in Congress assembled
The undersigned ^Citizens of LaFayette Onondaga Co. N.Y^ would respectfully represent to your Honorable body, that in our opinion the present Post Office law in relation to Pamp^h^lets not periodical is unwise & oppressive.

It is unwise because it materially affects the diffusion of knowledge and the Cherishing of friendly feelings between the different parts of the Republic, both of which are important to the stability of our free institutions

It is oppressive because a pamphlet containing not more than one sheet is charged 4 cents, & for a distance over 100 miles 6 cents, thus making an insidious distinction between Newspapers & pamphlets

Any prepayment on pamphlets we believe not according to sound policy, and an exorbitant demand tends to repel the affections of the people from the government whose functionaries have all their communications free.

We therefore petition your Honorable body to modify the existing law so as to comport with enlightened policy and the dictates of justiceAnd as in duty bound will ever pray for the prosperity of our country
LaFayette Onondaga County New York
February 24, 1848George E. Delavan.Elijah ParkMorris BakerC Laurence Williams[Syvenham?] BakerAlbert BakerLewis BakerH S. ColeChester BakerJoseph S. ColeTho^s DanforthJeremiah D. Share

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The remonstrance ^memorial^ of Citisens of Onondaga Co NY. praying for a reduction of postage upon Periodicals & pamphlets.

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March 4, 1848.
Ref^d to the Committee on the Post Office & post roads

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D. Gott