Petition for Cheap Postage.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens of the County of Seneca in the State of New York, respectfully
petition Congress to pass a law, establishing
1. A uniform rate of two cents 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 prepaid; but
newspapers of the smaller size, half a cent.
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 privelege 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 Post Masters to be remunerated for the loss of the franking privelege and the
temporary diminution of their income, by an increase of their Commissions.
Dated December 22d 1848.| C. D. Morgan | H F Gustin |
| Andrew Rogers | R. J. Knight |
| Hamilton Morgan | Danl S. Rendig |
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| Edwd Wilkins | B Young |
| Michael Kelly | F Cook |
| James Kelly | |
| Orrin Hart | D Waterman |
| Benj Banack | S H Gridley Jr |
| S. P. Knight | S E Woodworth |
| H. S Lisk | |
| John Millikin | H. E. Smith |
| Mathias Wunterlen | Peter Smith |
| Charles. J. Taylor | Henry Warner |
| D W Keeler | John E. Smith |
|
Ledyard Morgan
Platt Crosby |
M Walester Except Printed Matter issued Periodically ½ cent per sheet |
| Elijah Hulbert | C. W. M’Clintock |
| A. Jackson | James [?] |
| Q B. Phelps | S. G. Haden |
| Edward P Chapin | |
| Thos M’Clintock | H. Montgomery |
| Ebenezer Ingalls | T. J. Mumford |
| Wm V J Mercer | David S[Kootz?] |
| Martin Allen | H. L. Warner |
| [?] Parsons | J. K. Richardson |
| Jas S. Fairchild | C. Fairchild |
| J. M. Fairchild | C. B. Inslee |
| Wm. T. Gibson | Ransom Bennitt |
| Jno L Eisenlord | W. W. Wood |
| Jas C. Payne | John Sholes |
| Geo W Wood. | John H Crane |
| A. H. Alexander | Abram Cook |
| John Byram | J John Inslee |
| Samuel Bears | Thos Parks |
| Cyrus D. Hanks. | Jas R. Kidder |
| J. L. Bostwick |
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New York
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Petition of 70 citizens of Seneca County N York asking the Reduction of Postage &
the Abolition of the franking privelege
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^Presented^ By E. Blackmar
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Ref to Com on Post. Offices & Post Roads
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January 15, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
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√
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Blackmar
Autograph Document Signed, 4 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,