PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of
Chatham Col Co N.Y.
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. |
| J. W. Pitts | Malden Bridge |
| Jon. B. Rider | Chatham |
| T. B. Rider | Rider’s Mills |
| P. W. Smitt | doDo |
| Simon R Huesten | Chatham |
| Caroline Vincent | Do |
| William J Vanalstyne | Malden Bridge |
| George Ramsford | Malden Bridge |
| Lucy G. Pitts | Malden Bridge |
| Jane Ann Robinson | do |
| Elizabeth G. Pitts. | do |
| Levi Pitts | Chatham |
| Electa Ferguson | Malden Bridge |
| Airtroppe Robinson | Malden Bridge |
| George C Cornwell | "" |
| Joseph A Pratt | "" |
| Naterman Lippitt | "" |
| Nicholas Y Smith | "" |
| James Vincent | "" |
| John Ransford | "" |
| Nathan R Kinyon | "" |
| Isaac [Bow?] | "" |
| Lewis Hammond | "" |
| George Vosburgh | "" |
| Ransom Winans | |
| Milton H Haywood | |
| James Irvine | |
| H. W. Peaslee | |
| Nelson Boucher | |
| Cornelia Peaslee | |
| George Peaslee | |
| Ann Peaslee | |
| Elisabeth A Peaslee | |
| L Jones | |
| Nathan Ransford | |
| Joel C Simpson | |
| William Leaving | |
| Richard Irish | |
| Henry Coons | |
| Henry D. Langworthy | |
| Thos Shaw | |
| John L Clow | |
| Stephen Varley | |
| Myron Taylor | |
| Harrison Pratt | |
| Lewis Ashley | |
| Russell D Reed | |
| Joseph Cornwell. | |
| Wilson R Smith | |
| William B Kettle | |
| Ransom Page | |
| Charles [Keegan?] | |
| Henry English | |
| John Shaw | |
| Edward Carroll | |
| John Nolan | |
| Michal Conroy | |
| James Brown | |
| Patrick Ryan | |
| William Rieley | |
| Thos Hawthorn | |
| Peter Honsing | |
| Dennis Williams | |
| Claudius Van Deusen | |
| Gershom Hunt | |
| Robert Greenfield | |
| John Shoefelt | |
| Steves Joesh | |
| Alben D Pitts | |
| Richard [?] Vosburgh | |
| David Johnson | |
| Rensselau Lester | |
| John [Clover?] | |
| James H Kelsey | Eagle Bridge |
| Isaiah Reynolds | " |
| G F Hicks | " |
| Frances Loop | " |
| George W Palmer | " |
| Elias D G Briggs | " |
| Cornelius Coon | " |
| Winthrop Tipple | " |
| Philander S Gifford | " |
| Henry Gae | " |
| Abm Ashley Jr | " |
| Isaac M Pitts | " |
| [Reed?]. Carpenter | " |
| John W. [Gardner?] | " |
<Page 2>
Dear SirWill you please to present this Petition to Congress forthwith and use your influence
to have this measure carried through at this sessionyours respectfully
J. W. Pitts
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N.Y.
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Petition of inhabitants of Chatham Col: Coy Nyork for the reduction of postage &
for the abolition of the franking privilege.
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February 5, 1849
Referred to committee on ^the^ Post Office & Post roads.
Referred to committee on ^the^ Post Office & Post roads.
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√
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Mr Silvester
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,