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PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens ofPeterboro’ N. Hampshirerespectfully 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. Drop letters one cent,
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.
Liberty Billings Peterboro’, New Hampshire
Abiel Abbot ""
Ezra Abbot Jr. Samuel Smith
X Abby Abbot. A B Smith
Mary A Peabody S Manning
Fidelia Smith Job Hill
Sally Smith Stephen Fitt
Samuel Abbot Smith Elizabeth Smith
Caroline Smith.
Joseph H Washburn Julia A Smith.
James Scott Francis Smith
Robert Marsh F A Mitchell
Sam’l P. Brown. Albert Stevens
John R Miller. Rachel Moore
J. C. Little S. C. Moore
Leonard Hardy J. L. Moore
Elliot Powes Abisha Tubbs
Martha Craggin Albert Smith
E. G. Little
Sarah B. Carly Rufus Tilton
Harriet L Morse W. B. Flint
Clarisa. H. Hardy
Alva Stanley Geo H Ingalls
Thomas Little David Smiley Jn
Sarah Russell Saml Parker
Harriet L Gray Stephen P. Steele
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Timo K. Ames
N. H. Moore
Joseph H Ames
Alvah Ames
Archelaus Cragin
It is the desire of the within petion ^petitoners^ that you will present this forthwith & without delay to Congress & use your influence to carry through the measure this sessionRespectfully L. Billings
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N H.
Petition of Liberty Billings and 52 others of Peterborough N.H. praying Congress for Cheap Postage.
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January 22. 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
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Wilson
N.H.
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6
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P. O. P. R

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,