PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED: The undersigned, citizens of Sandwich 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 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. |
| Elias Wells | Sandwich |
| C. B. H. Fessenden | A David C. Freeman |
| Jeremiah " Bennett | |
| James H. Faunce | Robert Pope |
| Rufus Ellis | Jonathan B Marstins |
| Geo. Giddings. | |
| Charles Nye | Seth F. Nye |
| Nauman Dillingham | Chas H. Waterman |
| William Pope | J. F. Clark |
| G. H Pope 2d | Francis Kern |
| Wm Fessenden | A. J. Wakefield. |
| William Loring | Jas S. Newcomb |
| J. S. Burgess | Warren Marchant |
| Benj: F. Jones | Newell Hoxie |
| John Bassett | B R Childs |
| Micah Sinkham | Gustavus Howland |
| Geo. Phinney | Saml. C. Burbank |
| Asa S. Phinney | |
| Seth Thompson Jr | Jesse Boyden |
| George N Chambrlain | William Penny |
| Horace Lovell | |
| Stephen B Nye | Joseph H Hamblin |
| Henry F Benson | Stephen Sears |
| Samuel Dillingham | William Spring |
| Albert Lyman | Chipman Fish |
| Watson. F. Tobey | Edmund Freeman |
| Nathl F Fessenden | Thomas Fuller |
| Luther Haven. | Seth B. Wing |
| Clark Hoxie | J. E. Chipman |
| B. B. Hammond | John. W. Pope. |
| Thos J Claflin | Ezekiel E Swift Jr |
| George. L. Fessenden. | Heman Nye |
| Charles Southack | Edmund Fish |
| C. C. P Waterman | David Burgess |
| William Stutson | Wm M Brown |
| Chas H. Chaponil. | Ancil Tobey |
| John S Fish | Rob M Hatfield |
| Jonathan [?] | Jonathan B. Hall |
| Josiah Melcher | |
| William Forsyth | |
| [ |
|
| Seth Thompson | |
| John Allcock | |
| Alvah Holway | |
| Andrew S Fish |
Partially Printed Document Signed, 1 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,