PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens ofNantucket state of Massachusetts
respectfully petition Congress to pass a law, establishing
1. A uniform rate of Two Cents postage on letters weighing half an ounce, and two cents for every additional half
ounce, prepaid, and double that rate if not prepaid.
2. Newspapers, periodicals, and all printed matter, one cent per sheet; but newspapers
of the smaller size half a cent., to be prepaid, except newspapers and periodicals sent from the office of publication.
3. To reduce the postage on letters and newspapers by mail packets and steamers, to
a rate which will bring it within the [means of] every class of citizens to maintain frequent intercourse with their friends in other
countries, without feeling the postage to be a burdensome tax.
4. To adopt measures that in all large towns and cities there shall be a free delivery
of letters and newspapers, and also for the reception and conveyance of letters to
the post-office for the mails free of any expense.
5. To abolish the franking privilege entirely, that postage may be paid on every thing
sent by the mails. Postage of members of Congress to be paid as their other expenses,
and postmasters to be remunerated for the loss of the franking privilege and the temporary
diminution of their income, by an increase of their commissions.
| NAMES. | PLACE OF RESIDENCE. |
| Samuel Mitchell | all of Nantucket |
| Susan. A. Mitchell | Edwd M. Gardner |
| Arthur Mitchell | David Thain |
| Martha Mitchell. | Elihu Swain |
| Sarah J. Mitchell. | George W. Jenks |
| Henry L Alley | E G. Kelley |
| James Mitchell | Wm Starbuck |
| Aaron Mitchell | Philip Macy |
| Wm H Crosby | |
| Reuben Ray | |
| Obed Starbuck | |
| George Harris | Frederic B Chace |
| David Baker | Charles J Gardner |
| Reuben F Starbuck | |
| Saml B. Tuck | |
| Benjan Lawrence | |
| Charles P. Swain | John Cook [Jr?] |
| Thomas Brown | |
| Fredk A Chase | Edwd Field |
| Shubart L Russell | Edward P Coffin |
| Thomas Barnard 2d | George Parker |
| Edvard C Austin | Geo. C. Macy |
| Thomas Coffin 2d | Wm Worth 2d |
| Henry Cottle | Benjn C [?] |
| Henry Fitzgerald | |
| Albert [Ray?] | Geo. W. Macy |
| Geo. Cobb. | Thomas B Field |
| Asa G. Bunker | Charles B Coffin |
| Abed B Long | Daniel Vincent |
| Adoniram Marbel | William C Pease |
| Thomas Ellis | |
| George D Marbel | Reuben M Coffin |
| George Ranson | James R Hassam |
| Tim W. Calder. | A C [deitehel?] |
| [?] | [?] Baker |
| E H Parker | J H Pease |
| Micajah Handy | Wm S Barnard |
| Peter McCormick | Woller F Blankinsship |
| Geo G Nixon | Lewis Robinson |
| Geo. C. Allen | Edw H Barker |
| Charles W. Cook | Obed C Parker |
| Wm M Bates. | James. C Congdon |
| James Easton 2d | Reuben P Eldredge |
| J A. Cook | Orison Adams |
| G. R. Simpson | John F Coleman |
| Wm Crosby | R B Parker |
| Charles B Coffin | Chas Rawson |
| Hyman Bradbury | Reuben Chase Jr |
| Owen Chase | George Alley |
| R. C. Russell | Fredk W Chace 2d |
| Harriet Macy. | Josiah Sturtevant |
| Moses [Furburk?] | |
| John P Swain | |
| Robt F. Gardner | |
| N A Sprague | |
| John [F?] Sears | |
| Albert Tobey | |
| John M Gardner | |
| W E Chase | |
| Charles Macy | |
| W B Mitchell | |
| Wm Jenkins | |
| James Macy | |
| Charles B Myrick | |
| Wm H. Waitt | |
| Paul West | |
| Fredk Arthur | |
| Seth Mitchell | |
| Matthew Crosby | |
| Geo Myrick | |
| John W. Barrett | |
| Charles Mitchell | |
| Ja B Swain | |
| Matthew Starbuck | |
| Peleg Macy | |
| William Hadwen | |
| E W Gardner | |
| R. Hallett | |
| Isaac Macy |
<Page 2>
NANTUCKET Ms.JAN8
FREE
Joseph Grinnell Esqr.
Washington
[ endorsement
]
01/01/1849Nantucket Jany. 1st 1849.Dear Friend
01/01/1849Nantucket Jany. 1st 1849.Dear Friend
Please present this petition, as soon as convenient, to Congress and use thy influence
to promote the object of it.
Respectfully thy FriendSamuel Mitchell
Joseph Greenell Esqr
[ docketing
]
Mass
Petition of Samuel Mitchell and other citizens of Nantucket asking a reduction in the rates of Postage.
Petition of Samuel Mitchell and other citizens of Nantucket asking a reduction in the rates of Postage.
[ docketing
]
January 13. 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
[ docketing
]
Come on Post offices & Post Roads
[ docketing
]
Mr Grinnell
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,