PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED: The undersigned, citizens of Chesterfield Mass. 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. 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 packet 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. ^Names^ |
| O. Wanise Sr. | James C. Pearl |
| D S Axtell | Elisha Bisbee |
| Wm Bardwell | |
| B Tower | Martin Shaw |
| J. Engram | James Damon |
| Elisha Tilden | |
| Job Terry | [Mary?] P Bardwell |
| Moses Damon | |
| Joel Ingraham | H M Bardswell |
| Lewis Witherel | Newman Engram |
| J. D. Clark | |
| Nahum Shaw | E P Dickinson |
| Edsel Witherel | Lyman Joslyn |
| [?] [Taylor?] | [?] Bartlett |
| Amasa Belden | |
| Andrew H Baker | |
| Daniel Thayer |
<Page 2>
The member of Congress to whom this is directed is respectfully requested to present
this and use his influence in favor of these principlesChesterfield, Ms
Jany 22
Jany 22
free
Hon. Julius RockwellMemb. Cong.WashingtonDCRespects of Benjamin Bryant
[ docketing
]
Mass
Petition of 27 citizens of Chesterfield, Massachusetts; for reduction of the rates of postage, abolition of the franking privilege &c
Petition of 27 citizens of Chesterfield, Massachusetts; for reduction of the rates of postage, abolition of the franking privilege &c
[ docketing
]
January 25, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
[ docketing
]
√
[ docketing
]
To the Committee on Post office & Post Roads.
[ docketing
]
Presented by Mr Rockwell of Massachusetts
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,