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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 of
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.
Wm C Smith Livingston Ville Scho Co^N Y^
James Burnett Esq L Ville Scho C N Y
C R Daniel
T L Nickerson Scho Co N Y
C Martin Scho Co N Y
Henry J Stevenson Livingston Ville Schohary Co N Y
Spencer Coventry Livingston Ville Shoharry [?]
Harris Hulbert Livingstonville Schoharie [?]
Scho Co N Y
Erastus Whitting Scho Co N Y
John Whitting Scho Co N Y
Wm Whitting Scho Co N Y
John C[Corn?] Scho Co N Y
Wm [Corn?] Scho Co N Y
Harriet [Kern?] Scho Co N Y
Catharine Whitting Scho Co N Y
Malvina Stephenson Scho Co N Y
Caroline Br[e?]zz[an?] Scho Co N Y
Emily Kimble
Elizabeth Brunt Albany Co N Y
Sarah A Smith Sch[et?] Co N Y
Mariah Dolittle Green Co N Y
Hiram Wright Sho Co N Y
Mary Ellis
J L Wood Scho Co N Y
Thomas Bryant Scho Co N Y
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Benjamin Sherman Scho Co
Chs D Setzer Scho Co
L. P. Root Scho. Co
J [b?] Carhart
[Wm?] W[agner?]
[...?]
Mr Starkweather Member of Congress Washington Dist of Col
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Frank[linton?] Jan 24
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NEW-YORK
JAN 4
PAID
3 cts. Geo W Smith Livingstonville NY
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New York, December, 1848. Sir:
The object of this Circular is to obtain your name and influence in procuring from Congress an Act to reduce the rates of postage to a uniform rate of two cents for a single letter, weighing half an ounce, prepaid, and double that rate if not prepaid: a reduction of postage on newspapers and all printed matter, and in no case to exceed one cent a sheet[:?] to reduce the postage on letters and newspapers by mail packets and steamers to a rate which will bring it within the power of every class of our citizens to maintain a frequent intercourse with their friends in other countries, without feeling the postage to be a burdensome tax: to adopt measures for the free delivery of letters and papers in all our towns and cities wherever it is practicable: to abolish the franking privilege entirely, allowing the postage of members of Congress to be paid as their other expenses; and to remunerate postmasters by an increase of their commissions, as a compensation for the loss of the privilege of franking, and for any temporary reduction arising from the adoption of the cheap rates of postage.
These are the objects for which the New York Cheap Postage Association was organized, and they are desirous of awakening the attention of their fellow citizens in every section of the country to the advantages arising from the adoption of the above measures.
The benefits resulting from cheap postage are incalculable, both in [res?]pect to the Post-Office Department and the people generally. It will be the means of eventually increasing the revenue of [the?] former, as well as adding largely to the improvement and comfort of the latter. Cheap postage will bring all the correspondence of the country into the Post-Office. private expresses and private conveyance of letters will no longer [be?] [s?]ought after as a means of avoiding the payment of postage. The pre-payment of postage will prevent the accumulation of unpaid matter in the Post Office, and the loss which is sustained upon the dead letters returned to the General Post-Office. [The?] mails will no longer be loaded down with franked matter which is seldom read, and which, in many cases, is not even [ta?]ken from the Post Office. A low and uniform rate of postage, besides relieving the people from a burdensome tax, will afford an easier and more expeditious mode of calculation, and will yield, in less than five years, a revenue more than equal the to sum now collected by the Post Office Department.
In July, 1845, the present rates of postage were adopted; and. although the opponents of the measure predicted ruin to the Post-Office Department, we have seen that the number of letters has already increased more than one hundred per cent., and the revenue is now fully equal to its expenses. Hence the stale objection that a reduction of postage will throw the Post-Office on the Treasury for its support can no longer be urged; experience has proved, both in our own country and Great Britain, that the reduction of postage has been the means of increasing the business and the revenues of the Post-Office Department.
But what is paramount to every other consideration is the great benefits which will result from cheap postage to the moral, literary, social, commercial and political interes[ts?] of the whole country. These will suggest themselves to every reflecting person; and no one who is interested in the im[pr?]ovement, the civilization and happiness of his fellow men, can feel indifferent to the success of our enterprise.
We therefore respectfully request of you to sign the annexed petition yourself, and then obtain the signatures of all your family and neighbors, both old and young, male and female, as many as can read and write, because they are all equally interested in this measure. When you have obtained as many names as you can conveniently, will you please address it to the member of Congress for your district at Washington, with a request that he will present it forthwith and without any delay to Congress, and use his influence to carry through this measure at the present session.
We look to you, Sir, with great confidence, for your aid to encourage us in this benevolent effort, which is not for the benefit of a few, but for all, and therefore all should give it their sympathy and support.
Respectfully yours, JAMES BROWN,
President of the New York Cheap Postage Association. Barnabas Bates,
Corresponding Secretary.
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N Y
Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of the County of Schoharie State of New York for the reduction of Postage and abolishing the franking privilege
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Presented by Mr. Starkweather & refereed to Committee on Post offices and post roads
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January 30. 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post office and Post Roads.
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√
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Starkweather

Partially Printed Document Signed, 6 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