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 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. | ||
| J. C. Foster | Brattleboro Vt | ||
| G H Salisbury | " " " | ||
| Geo. P. Metcalf | " " " | ||
| John B. Miner | " " " | ||
| Isaac Smith | " " " | ||
| William S Brooks | " " " | ||
| Sumner Albee | " " " | ||
| L C Shelton | " " " | ||
| Chs A. Allen | " " " | ||
| Benja. Mrshall | " " " | ||
| Chas C Ellis | " " " | ||
| Chas C Frost. | " " " | ||
| R. G. Hardie | |||
| Henry Reed | |||
| B. V. French [Jr?] | } | Residing at the water cure of Docr Wesselhoeft Brattleboro Vt | Boston Mass. |
| D. H. Kellogg | New York. | ||
| [Walter Wright?] | [Chicago?] Ills | ||
| Edward Saeltzer | Brattleboro Vt. | ||
| Wesley P. Balch | Medford Mass | ||
| Thornton [?] Mason | [?] | ||
| Jno Mortimer Hall | Paterson NJ. | ||
| [Henry?] W[?] | Saratoga County NY | ||
| John W Burt | New York | ||
| Asa B Stover | Canterb[bury?] Ct. | ||
| N. W[irild?] | Brattleboro Vt | ||
| J. B. Hunter | Spencer, Mass. | ||
| Henry Prince | U S Army | ||
| Wm H. Wood. | Boston. | ||
| Wm Klinge | Brattleboro Vt | ||
| A. W. Robbins | Kentucky Versalles | ||
| J W Frost | Brattleboro | ||
| W C Spurr [?] | " | ||
| H D Brackett | " | ||
| S. B. Samson | Providence R. I. | ||
| Albert W Day | Brattleboro vt | ||
| Jas A Farwell | " " | ||
| E F Davis MD | " " | ||
| E. W. Forbush | Boston Mass | ||
| T. H. Forbush | " Mass | ||
| Charles Russell. | New Bedford " | ||
| Wm S Miller | Brattleboro Vt. | ||
| J. P. Prouty | " " | ||
| Thomas French | " " | ||
| Oscar B Mack | Boston Mass | ||
| George Robertson | Putney vt | ||
| H. R. Godfrey | Brattleboro Vt | ||
| F. L. Drake | Brattleboro | ||
| J H Esterbrook | Brattleboro Vt | ||
| Reuben Spalding | " " | ||
| Solyman C[ane?] | " " | ||
| Benson Jones | " " | ||
| John S. Lee | " " | ||
| C. R. Moor | " " | ||
| Wm S Clark | " " | ||
| [C?] [R?] Hadley | " " | ||
| George Cutler | " " | ||
| Jacob Marsh | " " | ||
| Wm A Conant | " " | ||
| W. B Hall | " " | ||
| James Ch[eck?] | " " | ||
| Lucius S. Day | do | ||
| Emileus L. Beckley. | " " | ||
| R. W. Clarke | " " | ||
| M J Motte | " " | ||
| Dexter Cune | " " | ||
| Uriel Sikes | " " | ||
| F. C. Edwards | " " | ||
| Jno L Dickerman | " " | ||
| Chas G Lauren [?] | " " | ||
| Wm Mccarty | " " | ||
| E. Frost | " " | ||
| Wm. Brooks | " " | ||
| H H Harding | |||
| [?] | |||
| S. A. Miller | |||
| Anthony Van Doorn |
The foregoing petition has seventy five names attached to it, and you will do the
petitioners a great kindness if you will present it congress without delay
Yours trulyJ. C. Foster,Pastor of the Baptist c[?]
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Brattleboro
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Petition of J. C. Foster ^& others^ of Brattleboro Vermont & others for reducing the rates of letter & newspaper postage & abolishing the Franking privilege.
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February 3, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
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√
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Henry
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