PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of Cotuit Po[r?]t 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. |
| Bethuel G. Handy | Cotuit Po[r?]t Mass. |
| Daniel H Sturges | "David Fish |
| James. H. Handy | "Abner. L. Small |
| Mary A. Handy | |
| Elisa H. Handy | "Betsy A Small |
| Florentine Handy | Melissa. L. Small |
| Azubah B Cash | Celia. R. Small |
| Sabarah A. Handy | Benjamin Small |
| John M Handy | |
| William Child | Polly Small |
| Sophia Child | John Ames |
| Josiah G. Handy | Maria Ames |
| Caroline S Linnell | olive maria Ames |
| Rhoary S Coats | Palan. F. Sturges |
| Job Handy | John R Sturgess |
| Almer Linni[ull?] | Elizabeth A Sturgess |
| Elijah Phinney | Daniel Sturgess |
| John Brock | Mary B Sturgess |
| Mary Handy | |
| Samadrus Laroy | Philemon Goodspeed |
| Sarah P Ames | Priscilla Goodspeed |
| Seth Hickerssone | Elliot F Goodspeed |
| Saml B Dottridge | Phebe A Goodspeed |
| Lebdial S Marston | Betsy Sturges |
| Malvina Marston | |
| Mary M Marston | |
| Susan S Marston | |
| William Ellis | Asa Coleman |
| Edward Rogers | Almira Coleman |
| John Coleman | Mercy Coleman |
| John C Fish | John Dottridge |
| J. G. Nickerson | David M. Burdick |
| Leonard Nickerson | A Alphus Adams |
| Alonso phinney | A[sa?] Adams |
| Ins[r?]yn Nickerson | Daniel Childs |
| Ruth A Nickerson | A C Childs |
| George W. Nickerson | Hannah B Childs |
| Vincent Nickerson | Grofton Phinney |
| Susan Nickerson | Mary H Phinney |
| D. P. Nickerson | Sarrah Phinney |
| I. P. Nickerson | Esther Phinney |
| J G. Nickerson | Charles G Phinney |
| Caroline Nickerson | Aaron Nickerson [S?]n |
| Polly Hickersson | Caroline Nickerson |
| Dorcas S Coleman | Shedrick Nickerson |
| James Coleman | Lucendia Nickerson |
| Bradd[ac?] [K?] Coleman | Eleanor Handy |
| Martha Coleman | Solomon Bearce |
| Francis B Coleman | L. W. Nickerson |
| James H Coleman | Abigail Nickerson |
| Sarah B Coleman | Lucy J Nickerson |
| Elizabeth A Coleman | Emily Y. Nickerson |
| Hezh Coleman | Leander Nickerson |
| Dorothy Coleman | Levi P Nickerson |
| Love Coleman | Clarentine J Nickerson |
| Leonard Chase | Horace Cash |
| Leonard. R. Chase | Horace B Cash |
| Susan. A. chase | Lydia D Cash |
| Susan Chase | James D phiney |
| Roli[v?]ona Chase | Daniel Nickerson |
| Harriet N Dottridge | Sarah Nickerson |
| Bennett W Dottridge | Aaron Nickson |
| Sarah L Nickerson | martha Nickerson |
| David. P. Nickerson | Adaline Nickerson |
| Abbigail. C. Nickerson | Shu[bael?] Nickerson |
| Minerva Nickerson | Martha A Nickerson |
| Samuel. B. Nickerson | Henry W Rogers |
| Samuel Nickerson | Josiah Lambert |
| Rhoda Nickerson | Daniel Nickerson Jr |
| Cephas J Ames | Abagail Nickerson |
| Rhoda H Ames | Mary A Nickerson |
| Joseph Nickerson | Richard S Handy |
| Mary P Fisher | Rebecca Handy |
| Thankful T Hamlin | Richard S Handy Jr |
| Eliza J Fish | Fanny F Handy |
| Adeline Nickerson | Mary. J. Cash |
| Faney Nickerson | Oliver A Nickerson |
| Isaiah Nickerson | Nancy C Nickerson |
| Charles F Nickerson | Pardon A Burlingame |
| William R nickerson | A Ann Burlingame |
| George W Bearse | Mary R Felker |
| Naomi L Phinney |
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Mass
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Petition of Citizens of Barnstable Mass. for reduction of Postage and abolition of
the Franking privilege.
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January 29 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
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Come on Post offices & Post Roads
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√
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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