Congressional Record: Postage on Letters to Texas, 1843

              27th Congress,                                                  Doc. No. 146.                                                      HO. OF REPS.
3d Session.

POSTAGE ON LETTERS TO TEXAS.
[To accompany bill H. R. No. 789.]

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FEBRUARY 16, 1843.
Laid before the House by Mr. Briggs, chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads.
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POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, February 8, 1843.
SIR: I have the honor to communicate the copy of an extract from a
note addressed to the Secretary of State of the United States, by the chargé
d'affaires from the republic of Texas, in relation to the delay and embarrassments attending the post intercourse between the two countries.
The plan of prepayment of postage proposed on the part of Texas
would doubtless obviate, to some extent, the delay and embarrassments
complained of; but this Department is not believed to be clothed with the
power, and therefore cannot, without the sanction of law, enter upon the
arrangement. For this reason, I respectfully submit to your honorable
committee the propriety of granting the requisite power by legislation.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. A. WICKLIFFE.
Hon. George N. Briggs,
Chairman Com. on Post Office and Post Roads.
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The undersigned would further solicit the attention of Mr. Webster to
the subject of the transmission of the mails between Texas and the United
States. From the want of proper arrangements heretofore, much delay
and embarrassment have attended the communications by mail between
the two countries. 
On the 3d of May last, Mr. Reily addressed a note to Mr. Wickliffe,
Postmaster General of the United States, upon this subject, in which Mr.
Wickliffe was requested to submit a plan, which the Government of the
United States would be willing to adopt, for the interchange of the mails.
Th[e] [re]quest of Mr. Reily was complied with by Mr. Wickliffe, under date
of 18th of May last. The plan proposed was soon after laid before my
Government. After an examination of its provisions, I am instructed to
say that my Government does not concur in the propriety of its adoption,
it not being considered as reciprocal in its terms, nor calculated, in its
opinion,  to effect the desired object.
The difficulties which now exist, it is confidently believed, may be ob-
viated in a great measure by the adoption of another and more simple ar-
rangement. .
I have therefore the honor to submit a plan which my Government is
prepared to adopt, should the same be approved of by the Governmen[t] of
the United States. The plan is as follows: