The Postage Nuisance.
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1S the Editor ef the Tribune:


am at that unlucky age which, as some sup
pose, should not be attained by any man, with
out voking himself to some damsel, more or less
fair and the past Valentines Day has not failed
To briny me several broad lntlmatlons OF this fact.
AS the letters are anonymous, and without marks
to show whence they came, must be benehtted
by those which are complimentary; and as those
which are not complimentary are so defective IN
grammar and style as to make one indifferent to
their rudeness | have derived no advantage or
injury, the amusement being=O0 except the
postagc tax. This | am not obliged to bear
the post Office, bad as it is, does not make itself
an instrument for malice or folly to use against
those who are supposed to merit an attront or
silly compment but the amount Is too small 10
pay for taking the valentines" to the office and
demanding a return of the postages. presume
there are others in similar predcament; and,
from what hear, Judge that SIX or seven hun
dred dollars have been paid in this way within
two days and not more than one hundred PAID
willingly.


This happens once year; but at all times one
is exposed to the infliction of letters from dis
tance, which arenot desired, but must be pald
for. as they are written in good faith. What Is
worse. men of decacy abridge their correspon-
dence with their dearest friends from the tear
that the tax will be troublesome; 1t does not
lessen the difficulty pay in advance; for the
other party will do the same. On the WHOLE
the postage monopoly is tax upon the attectlohs
of relatives and friends and dangerous lnstru-
ment at the command of fbores.


All this might be endured with patience II the
rate were not six times greater than private
company would or could charge, if competition
were allowed. But as the matter stands, 1t can.
not be endured without disgust: it is one among
nonp evils which the government ntiicts upon
us and the natural and actual consequence ol
their combined influence already is, that the go
vernment is hatcd-deeply hated not more ma
ted than other governments save oy 1e" WHO
have seen only the better phase OF others-Per-
haps not so much hated but still, every day the
ruling men are cursed, and often the system o.
Republicansm, and sometimes the people, are
cursed. as the causes of innumerable expressions
to neutrality-suspicious. Of every grade, from
The greatest which selfish politicians dare attempt
down to the petty swindling of postage mono
poly.


Can we, then, wonder at theory, "let us alone,
or the maxim "the best government is that when
governs least 2" And when we contemplate
the idea of good government, powerful IN De-
nefcence, and contrast it with what We endure
can we expect loyalty Indeed, your readers
will be surprised at the temperance OF thus 'oora
Is it not rather, but too evident, that the people
even the better sort Of them, arc becoming more
and more disloyal and hostile to the laws!


A SUFFERER.