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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 the City of Galena in the State of Illinois
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.
F. Drummond A. T. Crow
Cyrus Aldrich E Jones
A. Collins B. B. Howard
R. I. Taylor B. R. Sheldon.
Owen Reilly James Armour
Alexr Young [?]. C. Bostwick
Geo R Sanford Charles Peck
Chas. F. Potts H. H. Houghton
A. Romine E. [S?]. Seymour
N. S[tr?]att T. A. G[?]inger
Danl Warren W. C. E. Thomas
Jno Dean Stewart Crawford
Wm A Jordan N. Stahl
R Cribb Jas. W. Stahl.
Godfrey Shissler Fred Stahl
W. B. Green
Phillip Marx P M Ho[ward?]
George Fergusen [?] L. Foster.
W H Snyder
James Campbell Tho. H. B[?]
John E. Smith T. A. Livermore
[Z?] W Safley J Russell [Junior?]
Benj[?] Adams George T. Thatcher
James B. Power John. G. Potts
Henry Clymo Peter [?] Stotz
R. Bloomer S. [?]. McMaster
Jas. Bloomer Chas S. Hem[pstead?]
E Longworthy Martin Merriville
J. W. Van Meyer Eda Hempstead
J. Frysing[?] B. F. Thomas
Peter. [?]ingel Henry Co[?]ith
H. J Stouffer Peter G. Peltret
H G Keppy A G S Wight
Nathan Co[rinth?] Saml Ringgold
Saml Hughlett F W Bye
Thos C. Child Jos Barraclough
Benjamin Tart Benja Coombe
H. P. Corinth John. S. Lorrain
S H F Truele. R Blakeley
Jno W. Boggs
S [?]. Lorrain John W Sheldon
T. S. Co[?]e
Wm Hempstead E. S. Curry
Geo R Melvill Cromwell Chace
R S. Norris N. Pross[?]ten
C. P. Scott N Stillman
Thos P Pate J. M. Spratt
J K Eddowes James Rood
G. S Hammond Henry Saucier
Dan O Bartl[?] J. M. Harris.
Z Bell S H McMaster
Ja: Carter A. L. No[?]
A [U?]mickshau[?] J. Y. Monduly
B. C. StC[?]
S. M Wilson D Hoge
E A Da[?] Henry B Smitt
Henry Marfield L. Law[rence?]
Thos Bush Chas Sweney
[?]. [U?]astelerodes M. Plumstead
Thomas M N[?]ulty J M Douglass
B. F. Felt
H. C. Hart[bock?] W. B. Willis
Jno M H[?]sele[?] W. W. Goodwin
J. Q Ch[urliz?] J. L. Crocker
John Fiddick C Goodwin
Wm Fiddick H. H. Halsey
Geo M Mitchell D. A. Holmes
Jas Ha[?]is
[Ian?] L Johnson
J. Brookes Horatio Newhalt
O. S Johnson J. Dodg[?]
E. L. Massot J W Parks
W. P. Millard Edwin Rood.
Thos G[erdin?] Jas Jones
G. Hartho[us?]
W[?] Donaldson Nicholas Dowling
T. C. Foster M. R. Craig
Philip Busy John Garnir
Benson Galloway James M Ryan
James Gamble D H [?]oss
George Pilgi[?] E H Chambers
P Jacobs Benjamin B Myley
Wm C. Bryant Geo C Strother
Osa Welch M. W. Gash
Nathl Sleeper John. M. C. Kinney
W. D French H. H. Ladd
S P Smith [O?]. P. Stet[?]
John Barton James. Robinson
H. McMe[ek?] John Woods
<Page 2>
NEW Y[?]
DEC 28
PAID
3 cts.Hon R. B. Nelson
Galena
Ill.
[ docketing ]
Illinois
[ docketing ]
The Petition of Thomas Drummond and many others Praying for a reduction in the rates of Postage and the abolition of the franking privilege
[ docketing ]
January 31—1849
[ docketing ]
Refer to Com on PO & Post RoadsThos J L[areu?]
[ docketing ]
Turner 2
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