PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of Duxbury 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 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.
Duxbury
W. T. Harlow "
"
F. A. Harlow "
"
Leml Harlow "
"
Deborah Harlow "
Julius I. Harlow "
Martha Peterson "
J Y Gross
C. W. Gross.
R. B. Gross.
Kimball Harlow
[?] Harlow
George E Harlow
M. J. Talbot
E. D. Talbot
Thos N. Bartlett
Mercy T. Bartlett
Eunice Ellis
Sarah Brewster
Nathaniel Ellis
William. J. Allen

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Samuel Holmes Duxbury
Bradford Holmes Harvey D Winsor
Ellis Holmes Walter Frazer
Nancy Holmes Enoch Soule
Geo. L. Higgins
Lydia J Alden. Lewis E Bradford
Joseph Brewster
Almira Brewster Sarah B. Higgins
Hiram Hunt Nelson Stetson
Alfred Sampson Wm H Sampson
Weston Freeman Jr Eliza J Harlow
Andrew Stetson Charles M Harlow
Charles
James [Buny?]
Rufus Woolworth Lemuel Harlow
James Glass
Ralph Partridge
Jabez Reep
Nancy Glass
Cynthia Gross
Ezra Tainter
Edward Tainter
Mikel Baldner
Lewis Winsor Jr
Asa Brewster
Spencer Winsor
Horace H Wadsworth
Walter H Sampson
Samuel [Bilint?]
Otis Winsor
Joshua F Freeman

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Petition of ^citizens of Duxbury, Mass,^ W. [T?]. Harlow & others for a system of Cheap Postage & the abolition of the Franking privilege
[ docketing ]
January 25 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
[ docketing ]
Come of Post offices &c
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[ docketing ]
Artemas Hale
Mass

Partially Printed Document Signed, 3 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,