the existence
and embarrassments of a state of war, such as now exists, are any reason
at all for postponing the commencement of so glorious a measure. If it
could be brought about under the administration of an officer who has
expressed himself so cordially and intelligently in favor of cheap
postage, and whose ability and fidelity in the economical administration
of affairs are so well known, it would be but a fitting response to the
statesmanlike sentiments quoted above.

I am now to show that, on the strictest principles of justice, on the
closest mathematical calculation, on the most enlarged and yet rigid
construction of the duty imposed on the federal government by our
constitution, two cents per half ounce is the most just and equal rate of
postage.

IV. _What is the just Rule to be observed in settling the Rates of
Postage?_

The posting of letters may be looked at, either as a contract between the
government and the individuals who send and receive letters, or as a
simple exercise of governmental functions in discharging a governmental
duty. The proper measure of the charge to be imposed should be considered
in each of these aspects, for the government is bound to do that which is
right in both these relations.

Viewed simply as a contract, or a service rendered for an equivalent, what
would be the rate to be charged? Not, surely, the amount it would cost the
individual to send his own particular letter. The saving effected by the
division and combination of labor is a public benefit, and not to be
appropriated as an exclusive right by one. In this view, the government
stands only in the relation of a party to the contract, just as a state or
a town would do, or an individual. No right or power of monopoly can enter
into the calculation. We can illustrate the question by supposing a case,
of a town some thirty miles from Boston, to which there has hitherto been
no common-carrier. The inhabitants resolve to establish an express, and
for this purpose enter into negotiations with one of their neighbors, in
which they agree to give him their business on his agreeing to establish a
reasonable tariff of prices for his service. If the number of patrons is
very small, they cannot make it an object for the man to run his wagon,
unless they will agree to pay a good price for parcels. And the more
numerous the parcels are, the lower will be the rate, within certain
limits, that is, until the man's wagon is fairly lo