McGrawville Express, Thursday, January 6, 1848.
CORRESPONDENCE.
One-Sidedness by Academicus.
We are much gratified, in personal feelings, to learn that "petitions are circulating through the country for the repeal of the present odious postage laws upon newspapers" &c., yet we cannot with justice to all in view, style it an act of "Unprecedented Hoggishness" which in part appealed the act of '45.
That the postage laws of our country have always been ill regulated and grievous restriction upon the rights and immunities of a liberty-loving people, we believe equally with H., yet we do not believe that it would be wisdom in our legislators, or indicate a spirit of progression harmonizing with the "universal Yankee spirit," to restore the entire act '45. It was unjust in its application, and did not fully answer the end so much desired by the wise and philanthropic.
When any great moral enterprise is undertaken, or the reformation of some long continued evil attempted, the object is attained only by continued steps, never by retracing them. Thus with the postage laws, the old act, the act of '45, and the act '46, are only so many steps towards that most desirable of days, "when knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters do the mighty deep,'' and ignorance will nowhere find an abiding place. Would H. have us retrace even one step? Are you dissatisfied with the present position of the postage car? Place your shoulder to the wheel and assist in moving it onward, not act the part of the dog crossing a bridge with a bone in his mouth—drop the substance to grasp the shadow.
There was a manifest wrong perpetrated by the old act, in charging as much for carrying a letter from Boston to New York as it cost to transport a barrel of flour, and also in allowing too many the unrestricted "franking privilege."
The act of '45 was also unjust and unequal in its operation, imposing an unjust burden upon those who, though clothed with the insignia of office, yet receive scarcely a drop of government pap, whilst those who riot in "Spoils," and grow fat in office escape the burden. It is required of a post-master upon the receipt of a paper into the office, that he enter its title and the time of receipt, and at the close of the current quarter forward A COPY to the General Department. For his services, government allows him fifty per cent on paper postage, and less rates on letter according to the amount received. Thus we see that offices in cities and in large villages where most of the letters sent Center, and from whence most papers issue, would yield a much larger revenue to the lucky possessor according to the services rendered, than country offices. The act [of 1845] provided that all papers should be transmitted free of postage within thirty miles of the office of publication, yet retained the clause requiring him to enter and distribute them. It left him the empty fame of an officer under Uncle Sam without any of its emoluments or even a just compensation.
But the wrong did not end here. I would that it did, for the investigation shows such a one-sidedness on the part of those who apologize for this act, that we are led to exclaim, Mon Dieu!! One instance is all that space will permit us to mention although many more might be cited. By an examination of the statistics we find that the perquisites of the Binghamton post-master for the '46 (officially ending June 30th '46 amounted to upwards $200, notwithstanding it was the first year of reduced postage and a larger decrease was to be expected than in any succeeding year.
We are credibly informed, that during that time he distributed fifty-two free papers, all told, thereby causing a reduction of twenty-five cents in his fees, as the result of the free transmission of papers thirty miles from the office of publication.
As a contrast, we will take the Marathon, N. Y., office, the perquisites of which, for the same time, were about $25 and which distributed thirty-two hundred free papers, thereby causing a dead loss to the Post-Master of $16, for services actually rendered.
Is there any justice in this? Are our institutions so democratic and republican," that a man can live and support a family upon the mere fame of being a post-master? If Great Britain bestows more extensive advantages in this respect to her inhabitants, does she not at least provide that a small pittance shall be rendered for every service performed? But she can reduce her postage better than we, unless Uncle Sam relinquishes the idea of raising a revenue by taxing the spread of knowledge.
The English clerk receives his ten pence a day and is satisfied; but here it costs one dollar to procure the same labor. The sparseness of inhabitants in this country render a great many small offices necessary, and these performed nearly all the distribution of free papers as has been shown. In England, the population being dense, the offices large, and the means of conveyance easy, they are enabled to admit "the open passage of all newspapers, &c., through the mails." Open, that is, they do not have to keep an account of them. (Somewhat less work, we should guess, than two or three bookings.)
We noticed a Telegraphic dispatch in the last Liberty Press, announcing that Mr. Broadhead had given notice of a bill to repeal that portion of the law of last session, relating to the postage on newspapers within thirty miles of the office of publication.
God speed his efforts, and may his bill embracing a discriminating reduction on written matter, and the free use of the mails for the transmission of printed matter, it paying postage by weight, always being previously dried, and a clause excepting country papers within thirty miles of the office, and such an equitable postage on transient papers as would serve to increase their circulation, but if all this be accomplished, do not "hog" it out of the post-master.
Such, certainly, is the most "Unprecedented Hoggishness" that human ingenuity can invent, and a grand approximation to the rule of Federalist—that the rich sho'd be made richer, and the poor, poorer.
In relation to the act of '46, and its objectionable features, (the prohibition of transient papers, &c.) the arguments of G. A. H. are pungent and well-timed and anything we could adduce, would be like the light of the Moon in comparison with that of the Sun—a borrowed article. We probably shall not enjoy an equal and intelligence-spreading postage law until Uncle Sam receives THOSE INDEMNITIES from Mexico, when in the plenitude of his "dust" he may launch out enough to supply the deficiency for the first year or two.
We leave the question with you, dear reader, asking your careful consideration of the following:
Ought government to monopolize the right of Letter and Newspaper carrying?
Will not one penny pay for the transportation of any kind of merchandise, of the weight of a dry newspaper, to any part of the Union?
Ought all papers to pass free, within 30 miles of the office of publication?
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| General Winfield Scott. |
FROM MEXICO.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 1847.—Farther from Mexico per steamer Cheviot at New Orleans, which dates from Vera Cruz to the 16th, from the city of Mexico 14th.
A train left the city of Mexico on the 9th for Vera Cruz under the command of Twiggs. Pierce is coming down with it. Scott is said to have issued orders assigning brigade to Gen. Smith and Cadwallader and Col. Riley.
The Mexican Congress had a quorum on Dec. 6, which is the latest date from Querretaro. Many deputies still absent and 6 or 8 others expected to leave, notwithstanding the critical state of affairs. Monetor thinks the new Congress will do better than its predecessors.
There is a rumor of design of sending Mexican commissioners to Washington to get the appointment of commissioners to meet at Havana and arrange terms of a treaty of peace. There is yet no mention of the death of Herrera.
150,000 dollars in silver and gold was discovered by our troops under the Patterson, in the Convent of San Domingo in the city of Mexico. On further search in one of the cells they found large quantities of clothes and ammunition and removed them to the quarter master's department.
There are 12,000 men on the road near the Capital. Butler was expected at Puebla on the 12th of December, with twelve thousand men.
Several companies of the Ohio regiment were in camp at the Capital, the balance were at Puebla. A paragraph in the El Monitor says:
Paredes had an interview with Jarinra, and they resolved to call in European interference and aid. Paredes generally unpopular. Rumors from Querretaro that the Mexican army proclaimed Santa Anna dictator.
There have been several actions between the Mexicans and Indians. Savages have approached within 17 leagues of the city of San Luis. A large engagement had taken place at Mimgate—Indians defeated. The Mexicans released 200 women and children who had been taken prisoners, and recovered 2000 horses taken captive by the excursions of Indians into the state of San Luis.
Over 400 Mexicans have been killed, and a great many taken prisoners.
RUMORS OF PEACE.
PETERSBURG, Dec. 27, 1847.—By the PONEY EXPRESS this morning we have advices from New Orleans of the 22d. The steamer Tevoit had arrived from Vera Cruz, whence she sailed on the 20th. Gen. Patterson had reached the capital, having left a garrison at Rio Frio, which would be made a permanent depot. Congress remained in session, and had a quorum on the 6th inst, our latest dates from Querretaro, some rumors were circulating of a design being entertained by government of sending Mexican commissioners to meet at Havana, and arrange terms of a treaty of peace.
Col. Bankhead, the new Governor of Vera Cruz, had issued orders until further notice, to the affect that the routine of public business would continue as established by his predecessor, Col. Wilson. Capt. James Smith of the 3d Infantry died at Encerro on the morning of the 4th inst. of congestion of the brain.
The Vera Cruz papers say that the Mexican Government had called on Generals Canalizo, Aicarta and Lombardini to take up arms, offering them commissions in the new army. This was disapproved of by the Monitor Republicano, which observes that their own cowardice or want of capacity renders them unworthy of commands.
A sailor named John Arland, who deserted from the U. S. sch'r. Flirt, and joined a company of dragoons, was arrested to be taken back to the Flirt. He attempted to escape again, and was shot by the sentinel posted at the guard house.
The North .American of the 14th gives an account of a serious affray which occurred at the capital on Sunday, the 12th.
Three men of the 1st and 2d Pennsylvania regiments were attacked in the streets by a mob of leperos, in the western part of the city, and one of them, Luke Floyd, was badly wounded. Two of them escaped and having procured the assistance of the guard, they shot three of the Mexicans dead and wounded several others.
Lieut. Whipple, who was taken by the guerillas near Vera Cruz in July, and supposed to have been murdered by them, is now in Puebla acting as Adjutant General to Gen. Lane. A gentleman who recently conversed with Lieut. Whipple, states that several letters addressed to Gov. Wilson, bearing his signature and published in the New York papers, are forgeries. He wrote but one letter that was published in a New York paper.
LATE AND IMPORTANT FROM SANTA FE.
Frightful Massacre of the Indians.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 20th, P. M.—We are in possession of Santa Fe intelligence just received from Fort Main, of the 20 th ultimo., stating that the place had been the scene of a most frightful massacre of the Indians. The circumstances attending it were substantially as follows:
On the 25th, Indians were observed at some distance from the Fort, and were supposed to number seventy or one hundred. The chief of the band visited the fort and was cordially invited in by Capt. Pettenger, the senior officer. The Indians were also invited to enter who, while in the Fort, had their suspicions aroused that harm was intended them, which was caused by certain movements of the troops.
The Indians attempted to escape out of the Fort, and in so doing four were killed and two wounded; three others, who were at Capt. Pettenger's, and had taken refuge in his quarters, were killed. 15 or 20 were wounded on the outside of the Fort, five of whom were considered mortally.
Col. Gillispe was absent at Fort Brent. This was regarded as an infamous and horrid affair. The Indians were Pawnees.
NEWS OF THE DAY.
Executive Nominations, &c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-- Col. Rouan of Kentucky, a son of the former U. S. Senator, was nominated Charge to Naples to-day, in place of Major Polk. Gen. Houston, has been re-elected U. S. Senator from Texas.
Gen. Shields and Quitman visited the Capitol to-day and were received with much attention by the members of both houses of Congress. They have been invited to a public dinner on Friday. Nearly all the Senators present and many of the Representatives with the Mayor and others are subscribers to the dinner.
It is believed that the Hon. John W. Davis, late speaker of the House, was nominated to-day as Minister to China.
Lynn Starling, Esq., of Columbus, Ohio, has made a donation of 20,000 dollars to the Medical College of that city.
The Bank of Auburn declared a dividend on Monday last, of fifty per cent on their capital stock.
The running of the Sunday trains of cars over the road from Albany to Buffalo must, if the business of yesterday is to be taken as a sample, be unprofitable in a pecuniary point of view. The morning train to the west carried about six or eight passengers, and we understand only 67 passengers passed over the Albany and Schenectady road in four trains, two going west and two coming east.—Albany Argus.
The Eric Canal is in its 28th year, and its tolls have amounted to over 37,600,000 dollars, or four times its original cost—thus it pays for itself once in 7 years.
THE CHOLERA.—A considerable alarm was felt in various parts of Europe at the progress of the Cholera in Russia, and other places. The first Lieut. on board the steamer Mentor died of the disease, after the landing of her passengers at the Lazaretto. The vessel was in consequence subjected to a rigid quarantine of 12 days. All steamers arriving from countries where the cholera prevails are subjected to a quarantine of 10 days, whether any cases occur on board or not. The influenza prevails to an alarming extent in Paris, and this is regarded as a forerunner of the cholera, which is expected to arrive in a few months—Boston Daily Advertiser.
O Whiskey! thou art a Devil.—The Sheboygan Mercury says it is rumored that while the Phoenix was lying at Manitowac, the same night that she was burned, a number of the hands, among whom was the engineer and several of the fireman, were ashore drinking and carousing to such a degree as to be ordered to leave the bar room of the public house in that place. It is also stated by the survivors that when the boat left Manitowac the fireman were intoxicated.—Southport American.
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