A gentleman posted a letter containing drafts, checks, &c., to a
well-known New York house. Its failure to arrive at the proper
destination, of course, created great anxiety, and all the ordinary and
some extraordinary means were employed to head off any attempt by the
“mail-robber” to negotiate the “stolen” remittances. Journeys were made
to and fro between the mailing point and the Empire City, the newspapers
were liberally patronized with notices of “stolen from the mail,”
circulars descriptive of the lost enclosure abounded,—all at an
aggregate expense, according to confession, of over one hundred dollars.
During this short season of precaution and excitement, the letter in
question had been making the official acquaintance of the worthy
postmaster of New Haven, Connecticut, and that of his clerks, then,
under the rule, skipping off to shake hands with our friends of the
dead-letter office, and from thence finding its way back to the writer,
who says he “never before did such a stupid thing as to write New Haven,
Ct., instead of New York, N.Y.”
_A LAW TO BE REPEALED._
It is only necessary to give this section of the postal law to show its
inconsistency and the necessity of its repeal (Section 131, Printed
Regulations, 1859):—
“_Bonâ fide_ subscribers to weekly newspapers can receive the same free
of postage, if they reside in the county in which the paper is printed
and published, even if the office to which the paper is sent is without
the county, provided it is the office at which they regularly receive
their mail-matter.”
In justice, however, to many publishers, who look upon the law as too
_liberal_, they disdain taking advantage of it.[52]
_POSTAGE ON TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER._
Books not over 4 ounces in weight, to one address 4 cts.
” over 4 ounces and not over 8 ounces 8 ”
” over 8 ounces and not over 12 ounces 12 ”
” over 12 ounces and not over 16 ounces 16 ”
Circulars not exceeding three in number, to one
address 2 ”
” over three and not over six 4 ”
” over six and not over nine 6 ”
” over nine and not exceeding twelve 8 ”
Persons anxious to possess a general knowledge of the post-office laws,
rules, and regulations are referred to “Appleton’s United States Postal
Guide,” published quarterly, by the authority of the postmaster-general,
New York. It contains the chief regulations of the post-office, and a
complete list of post-offices throughout the United States, &c. The
following accompanies each number:—
“WASHINGTON, D.C., ———, 1865.
“This volume has been prepared with my sanction, and is an
authorized medium of information between the post-office
department and the public.
“POSTMASTER-GENERAL.”
_NEWSPAPERS, EXCHANGES, ETC._
“Gazettes sent gratis down and franked,
For which thy patron’s weekly thanked.”
The question of the right to send and receive letters and packets
through the mail free of postage is not denied, for it is so expressly
stated in the “Laws and Regulations of the Post-Office Department,”
chap. xviii. sect. 228. It is viewed in the light of “personal
privileges,” or as an official trust for the maintenance of official
correspondence. In both its forms the right varies in respect to
different classes of officers and individuals, in the kind as well as
weight of matters which may be so sent or received. An interchange
between publishers of pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, and newspapers
of their respective publications is allowed for the purpose of promoting
the dissemination of this kind of information, of which they are the
vehicles. This is the head and front of the franking privilege, nothing
more, but should be considerably less.
“There are many other channels of knowledge, and of very important
knowledge, too, which are not privileged. Newspapers are daily or weekly
letters, written to a number of persons at once. They may be good or
bad, sound or vicious, as any other letters; and the intensity of their
action is increased by the multiplying process of printing. This action
may be good or bad: if, therefore, the community is believed to stand in
want of newspapers, as we certainly believe it does in a very great
variety of ways, it is already going very far to grant them the
privilege of a greatly-reduced rate of postage [1841].”[53]
Since the above was written, these rates have been reduced to almost a
nominal value. Indeed, we cannot see any reasonable objection to be made
for such exchange, both as regards the franking privilege and the
postage on exchange-newspapers. Patriotism on the part of those claiming
the right of the first would induce them to forego it, while those who
enjoy the latter should remember that, as they derive profit from their
labor, the government should not be the sufferer in consequence. Upon
this subject we consider the following article from the very able report
of Postmaster Joseph Holt in 1859 as containing the best and the most
forcible arguments that can be used to correct what we consider more in
the light of an error than that of an abuse. The press of our country
is too enlightened to persist in claiming a privilege that militates
against the financial interest of the government; and we feel assured
that, if the subject is properly brought before them, they will readily
conform to any law that may be established to correct the error or do
away with an abuse.
(From the Report of the Postmaster-General.)
“POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, 1859.
“The act of 1825 authorized ‘every printer of newspapers to send one
paper to each and every other printer of newspapers within the United
States free of postage,’ and such is the existing law. However slight
the support which this statute may seem to give to publishers, it
imposes in the aggregate a heavy and unjust burden on the department.
The advantage thus conferred inures to the benefit alike of the
publisher who sends and of him who receives the paper in exchange. I
have in vain sought for any satisfactory explanation of the policy
indicated by this provision. It seems far more exceptionable than the
franking privilege, since the latter professes to be exercised on behalf
of the public, whereas the exemption secured by the former is enjoyed
wholly in advancement of a private and personal interest. The newspapers
received in exchange by the journalist are, in the parlance of commerce,
his stock in trade. From their columns he gathers materials for his own,
and thus makes the same business use of them that the merchant does of
his goods, or the mechanic of the raw material which he proposes to
manufacture into fabrics. But as the government transports nothing free
of charge to the farmer, the merchant, or the mechanic, to enable them
to prosecute successfully and economically their respective pursuits,
why shall it do so for the journalist? If the latter can rightfully
claim that his newspapers shall be thus delivered to him at the public
expense, why may he not also claim that his stationery and his type, and
indeed every thing which enters into the preparation of the sheets he
issues as his means of living, be delivered to him on the same terms? It
has been urged, I am aware, that postage on newspaper exchanges would be
a tax on the dissemination of knowledge; but so is the postage which the
farmer, merchant, and mechanic pay on the newspapers for which they
subscribe, a tax on the dissemination of knowledge, and yet it is paid
by them uncomplainingly. If it be insisted that the publishers of
newspapers, as a class, are in such a condition as to entitle them to
demand the aid of the public funds, it may be safely answered that such
an assumption is wholly unwarranted. Journalism in the United States
rests upon the broadest and deepest foundations, and is running a career
far more brilliant and prosperous than in any other nation of the world.
The exceedingly reduced rates at which its issues pass through the mails
secure to it advantages enjoyed under no other government. Under the
fostering care of the free spirit of the age, it has now become an
institution in itself in this country, and controls the tides of the
restless ocean of public opinion with almost resistless sway. It is the
_avant-courier_ of the genius of our institutions, and is everywhere the
advocate of progress and of the highest and noblest forms of human
freedom. Is it not, therefore, to the last degree unseemly, if not
worse, that in its own enterprises, and in furtherance of its own
pecuniary interests, it should claim permission to violate habitually a
great principle of which it is the constant advocate, and which
underlies our whole political system,—the principle of equal rights to
all and special privileges to none? If, however, from the grandeur and
beneficence of its mission, the press is to be excepted from the
operation of this wholesome democratic doctrine, and is to be
subsidized to the extent of its postages by the government, then
undeniably such subsidy should be contributed from the common treasury,
instead of being imposed, as at present, on the oppressed revenues of
the post-office department, which, under all circumstances, should be
maintained inviolate.
“Into the same category, but for more cogent reasons, must fall that
class of weekly newspapers which the statute of 1852 requires shall be
delivered free of postage to all subscribers residing within the limits
of the county in which they are published. This requisition is less
sound on the score of principle than even the discrimination in favor of
the press. There may be something in the characteristics of the
latter—ennobled as it is as the organ of the intellect and heart of
millions of freemen—which might induce many to grant to it special and
distinguishing immunities; but why a citizen who chances to reside on
one side of a county line shall be exempted from a postage on his
newspaper, which his neighbor on the other side of that line is obliged
to pay on the same paper, surpasses my comprehension.”
_LETTER ADDRESSES._[54]
To Nathaniel K. Latting this letter I write,
With the hope that the contents his mind may delight.
If it don’t make him good, it can’t do him evil,
For it comes from a friend, and not from the d—l.
In Mount Vernon village, New York State,
He works for his daddy, both early and late.
To Miss J. E. Peck this letter is sent,
To be read by herself it only is meant.
In “Sandy Hook,” Conn., she leads a gay life,
Where Yankees make nutmegs and hams with a knife.
P. M., this letter cannot wait,
To Burlington County send it straight.
To Jos. Wright this message give,
Who in Medford, New Jersey, himself doth live;
At least he did six months ago,
And still does if the _draft_ or the _small-pox_ has not laid him low.
If he is alive he will read this letter,
And if he is dead so much the better.
Over the plain and over the level,
Carry this letter like the Devil;
Let it not stop for flood or fire,
Until it reaches Bill Crawl, Esquire.
To Lexington, Sanilac Co.,
Oh, swiftly, swiftly let me go,
To cheer the heart, or cloud the brow,
Of Mrs. Anna M. Monro.
Mich.
Mr. James Smith, Fort Wayne,
Antwerp, Ohio, in care of William
Herring, Cayuaga Co., N.Y.
To Mrs. Jane Gleason send this away;
Please send it off without delay
To Ripleyville P. O., if it goes aright;
She will surely get it on Thursday night,
In Huron county, Ohio State:
There she lives, or did of late.
Send it in haste, it will give her joy,
For she wants to hear from her soldier boy.
To John Gillespiee
Camp. Cade.
Dell. A Ware. Pa.
Meaning Camp Cadwalader.
To Peter Smith
1209 Cartridge St.
3. Este. Av.
near 3 Esher.
Mr. Isaac Bakerson
Cam. Cal. Walter
Ner. Filladelphy
R. 2 1 N. E.
To Phil. Monitze
n care of mister John dick
filladelfy. Kensession. America.
To My Mother—
America
Connected with this letter is the following incident: it fortunately
came to Philadelphia, and, of course, from its superscription was placed
apart to find its way to the dead-letter-office. One day a poor
Irishwoman came to the window and asked for a letter from her son,
giving no name. The simplicity of the question struck the clerk, and the
letter addressed “To My Mother” flashed upon his mind. He turned to the
case and selected the letter.
“Where does your son reside? what part of Ireland?”
“Belfast, sir.” Belfast was the post-mark.
“What is his name?”
“Patrick McLaughlan.”
“Open that letter,” handing her the one in question. She did so, and,
casting her eyes on the signature, exclaimed, “From my son! from my
boy!” Sure enough, there was the name,—Patrick McLaughlan.
The clerk gave her some instructions for future correspondence which
probably proved of advantage to her.
Somebody sent a newspaper through the mails the other day directed as
follows: “To Honest Father Abraham, God bless him, Washington, D. C.”
The following is a literal copy of the superscription of a registered
letter received from Ireland, written, strange as it may seem, in a
“clerkly hand”:—
To this letter I pray attend
To A lady Late of Ireland
To the maiden’s name ascribe the thing
To Late miss Eliza King
To get success in your routes
Take this to america or thereabouts.
The Army is the tightest place
I ever did get into,
I cannot pay the freight on this,
Although I really want to;
I’ve “nary red,” but five months due—
Don’t think it’s “on the level”—
Postmaster, you may send this through,
Or chuck it to the d—l.
To Patrick Larkin who moved to his brothers at Adamsville in haste to
the care of Bernard Larkin State of Penlyva.
To Albert Walker, an awful talker,
Who lives in Salina—you won’t find a meaner
If you travel all day through the State of I-O-A.
My fair is paid in postel rate,
To Kingston Township, New York State,
To Frederick Johnston, from a friend in Troy,
’Tis how are you, my conscript boy?
To a Mr. Service this letter I write,
And I’ll start across the plains to night;
For the over-land mail is now running through
Down the South Platte, and across the Big Blue,
The Sioux, and the Cheyennes, have failed in their plan
To stop the mail of Old Uncle Sam,
And over the plains, I now can go straight,
To the Old Quaker City, and the Keystone State.
Across the river quickly send me,
In doing so do not rend me,
Take me to Gussie Wurderman,
Carry me quick and do it well,
Or Corney Walborn will catch——_rats!_
To Sxl2 Thes. Johnes
Haile Alley towne. Des.
Unetede Stateese.
Pencil.
_Deth, in hast._
We doubt if this letter ever reached its destination.
It is somewhere along the Jersey shore
Thirty miles belong long branch and more,
For if this should fail to set you right
Its about 28 miles above Barnegets light.
To Miss ——————————————x.
To Jno. Tripler
Ridge avenue
Deap Pot.
Sleep Eaves
Phila
To John Jones, a laboring man
This letter must go if e’er so lucky
He shoes can make, and leather tan
In Lexington town, in old Kentucky.
If the Postmaster knows an alley
In the city, called—Vandally
No 10—this letter, may by chance
Reach the sight of Mary Hance.
To Patric Gonegan
Pisin road, South Work
Knavee yarde, or theire somware
filedelphirea
John Shmeet
Shermummerbauner Roth
began Wester
And Jamphen St.
A literal translation, after much study of the dead languages, the
following was the result:—
John Smith
Germantown Road
Between Master & Thompson
Ns Duniel
lesunt Yost
nrpfflen pliladelpha
Pa in Ceuse ob
obed
Eas make
All Greek to the clerks.
Gasnot Hill
Hoss Spittall, for
Mrs. C. Gellengham.
For Dan, that was
In Smith’s Store.
No other direction.
In care of mister John Dick
filladelfy
King’s Sessions, mericai
The “New York Tribune” gives the following amusing addresses, in rhyme
and otherwise, that have passed through the post-office in that city:—
To be forwarded to
Margaret Flynn
and from you Margaret
to your brother Jack
and Sister Honora
Sister Ellen and Michael
In care of Mr. Wm. H. Baldwin E. S. K, America.