The Franklin Privilege was primarily extended to government officials.  Additionally, every newspaper publisher could send one paper postage-free to every other newspaper in the country.

As might be expected, the franking privilege was hotly contested and was abused by the very people who had voted it into law.  In one famous story, a senator is believed to have attached his frank to his horse’s bridle and sent the animal back to Pittsburgh.

In 1869, the postmaster-general, whose department was running a large deficit, recommended that Congress and federal agencies switch to postage stamps. It was ultimately abolished.