PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED: The undersigned, citizens of Lancaster, Worcester co commonwealth of massachusetts 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. |
| Chas W. Packard | |
| James G Carter | |
| Francis S. Hussey | |
| Wilder S. Thurston | |
| Charles Wyman | |
| B. F. Spofford Jr | |
| [ |
|
| Sewell T Rugy | |
| Chas Packard | |
| E M Hilwell | |
| B F [Kidd?] | |
| S. A. Hunting | |
| J. H. Brown | |
| Eber Goddard | |
| F. O. Wilder | |
| [ |
|
| J. W. Barnes | |
| A. A. Rand | |
| Wm D Whitney | |
| Francis Wilcox | |
| Henry Lincoln | |
| Henry Smith. | |
| E K. Gildy | |
| J. H. Chase | |
| E. Butler | |
| Peter Osgood | |
| Jeremiah Bannard | |
| Henry H Sparks | |
| Saml W Renlant | |
| Aaron Burbank | |
| C. Brooks | |
| L. S. Burbank | |
| Henry Wilder | |
| G W Burbank | |
| J C Parsons | |
| L W Dannon | |
| James Childs | |
| Otis Houghton | |
| O H Newton | |
| [?]n R Priest | |
| John Bennett | |
| John. R. Wyman | |
| M. F Woods | |
| John Keith |
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Mass.
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Petition of Charles W. Packard & 41 others of Lancaster, Mass. praying for uniform
& reduced rates of postage
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1849. Feb. 13th Referred to the Committee on the Post. office & Post. Roads.
A. H. H.
A. H. H.
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J. G. Palfrey.
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PAID
JERSEY CITY N.J.JAN 16Rev Charles PackardLancasterMass
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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, pre-paid, and double that rate if not pre-paid:
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 respect 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 sought 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 taken 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 to the 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
interests of the whole country. These will suggest themselves to every reflecting
person; and no one who is interested in the improvement, 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.
Partially Printed Document Signed, 4 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,