ion of the undersigned, with such
modifications of the act of 1845 as have been suggested, an
uniform less rate might, in a few years, be made to cover the
expenses of the department; but by its adoption the department
would be compelled to rely upon the treasury for a few years. At
this time, during the existence of a foreign war, imposing such
heavy burdens upon the treasury, it might not be wise or prudent
to increase them, or to do anything which would tend to impair the
public credit; and, ON THIS ACCOUNT alone, recommendation for such
a reduction is not made.

"Postage is a tax, not only on the business of the country, but
upon the intelligence, knowledge, and the exercise of the friendly
and social feelings; and in the opinion of the undersigned, should
be reduced to the lowest point which would enable the department
to sustain itself. That principle has been uniformly acted on in
the United States, as the true standard for the regulation of
postage, and the cheaper it can be made, consistently with that
rule, the better.

"As our country expands, and its circle of business and
correspondence enlarges, as civilization progresses, it becomes
more important to maintain between the different sections of our
country a speedy, safe, and cheap intercourse. By so doing, energy
is infused into the trade of the country, the business of the
people enlarged, and made more active, and an irresistible impulse
given to industry of every kind; by it wealth is created and
diffused in numberless ways throughout the community, and the most
noble and generous feelings of our nature between distant friends
are cherished and preserved, and the Union itself more closely
bound together."

Nothing can be more true than the position, that "postage is a tax," and
that it is the duty of the government to make this "tax" as light as
possible, consistent with its other and equally binding duties. Nothing
more sound than the doctrine that it is utterly wrong to charge postage
with _anything more_ than its own proper expenses. Nothing more just than
the estimate here given of the benefits of cheap postage. The blessings he
describes are so great, so real, so accordant with the tone and beneficent
design of civil government itself, and especially to the functions and
duties of a republican government, that I do not think even