# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/3rd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 23

Chap. ⅩⅩⅢ.—An Act to establish the Post-office and Post-roads within the United States.
Establishment of Post Roads after first June next. 1799, ch. 43. 1810, ch. 37.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following be established as post-roads, namely: From Passamaquoddy, in the district of Maine, to Saint Mary’s in Georgia, by the following route, to wit: From Passamaquoddy, through Machias, Gouldsborough, Sullivan, Trenton, Bluehill, Penobscott, Frankfort, Belfast, Ducktrap, Camden, Thomaston, Warren, Waldoborough, Bristol, Nobleborough, Newcastle, Wiscassett, Bath, Brunswick, North Yarmouth, Portland, Biddeford, Wells, York, Portsmouth, Newburyport, Ipswich, Salem, Boston, Worcester, Brookfield, Springfield, Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, New-York, Newark, Elizabethtown, Bridgetown, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, Bristol, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Christiana, Elkton, Charlestown, Havre de Grace, Harford, Baltimore, Bladensburg, the city of Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, Colchester, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Bowling-Green, Hanover Courthouse, Richmond, Petersburg, Goldson’s, Warrenton, Lewisburg, Raleigh, Averysborough, Fayetteville, Lumberton, Cheraw Courthouse, Camden, Columbia, Edgefield ​Establishment of Post Roads after first June next.Courthouse, Augusta and Waynesborough, to Savannah; and thence by Newport Bridge, and Saint Savilla, to the town of Saint Mary’s. From Portland, by New Gloucester, Green, Monmouth, Winthrop, and Hollowell Courthouse, to Pittstown, on the river Kennebeck. From Portsmouth, by Exeter, Chester, Amherst, Keen, and Walpole, to Charlestown. From Chester, by Concord and Plymouth, to Haverhill. From Exeter to Hampton Falls. From Salem to Gloucester. From Salem to Marblehead. From Boston to Plymouth, Sandwich and Falmouth; and from Falmouth to Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. From Sandwich to Barnstable and Yarmouth. From Boston to Taunton and New Bedford, and thence to Nantucket. From Boston to Hartford in Connecticut, by Dedham, Mendon, and Pomfret. From Boston to Keen. From Boston, through Andover and Haverhill, to Chester. From Taunton to Providence; and from Taunton, by Dighton and Somerset, to Warren. From New Bedford to Newport. From Boston, by Providence, Norwich, New London, Saybrook and Guilford, to New-Haven. From Newport, by Bristol and Warren, to Providence. From Newport, by East Greenwich, to Providence. From Newport, by Westerly and Stonington Point, to New London. From Springfield, by North Hampton, Greenfield, Brattleborough, Westminster, Charlestown, Windsor, Hanover and Haverhill, to Newbury. From Springfield, by Stockbridge, to Kinderhook. From Brookfield, by North Hampton, Pittsfield and New Lebanon, to Albany. From Hartford, by New Hartford, through Norfolk, Canaan, Sheffield, and Hillsdale, to the city of Hudson. From Hartford to Norwich. From Hartford, by Middletown, to New London. From Hartford, by Farmington, Harwington, Litchfield, New Milford, Newtown, Danbury, Ridgefield, Poundridge, Salem, North Castle, and White Plains, to New York. From New York, by Peekskill, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Redhook, Clermont, Hudson, and Kinderhook, to Albany. From Albany, by Lansingburg, Bennington, Manchester, Rutland, Middlebury and Vergennes, to Burlington, on Lake Champlain. From Rutland to Windsor, in the state of Vermont. From Albany, by Schenectady, Johnston, Cannojoharrie, and Whitestown, to Canandorque; and from some convenient point in that line, through Cherry Valley, to the Courthouse in Cooperstown, in the county of Otsego. From the city of New York, by the most useful route, to Sagg Harbor. From Newark or Elizabethtown, by Morristown and Rockaway, to Sussex Courthouse; and from thence, by Hacketstown and Morristown, to Elizabethtown or Newark. From Woodbridge to Amboy. From Trenton, by Allentown, Monmouth Courthouse, Shrewsbury and Spotswood, to Brunswick; and from Brunswick, by Somerset Courthouse, New Germantown, Pittston and Flemington, to Trenton. From Philadelphia, by Bethlehem, Easton, Sussex Courthouse, Goshen, Ward’s bridge, and Kingston, to Rhinebeck. From Bethlehem to Reading. From Philadelphia, by Woodbury, Swedesborough and Salem, to Bridgetown, in West New Jersey. From Philadelphia, by Norristown, Pottsgrove, Reading, Lebanon, and Harrisburg, to Carlisle. From Reading to Lancaster. From Philadelphia, by Lancaster, Yorktown, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Bedford and Greensburg, to Pittsburg. From Pittsburg, by Washington in Pennsylvania, West-liberty in Virginia, and Wheeling, on the Ohio, to Limestone and Fort Washington. From Limestone, by Bourbontown, Lexington, Frankfort, and Harrodsburg, to Danville, in Kentucky. From Danville, by Bardstown, to Louisville. From Yorktown, in Pennsylvania, by Hanover, Petersburg and Tawney town, to Fredericktown, in Maryland, and thence to Leesburg, in Virginia. From Wilmington, in the state of Delaware, New Castle, Cantwell’s bridge and Duck creek, to Dover; and from thence, by Frederica, Millford, Daggsborough, Snowhill, Horntown, and Accomack Courthouse, to ​Establishment of Post Roads after first June next.Northampton Courthouse; and thence, to Norfolk, Hampton or Yorktown. From Philadelphia, by Wilmington, Middletown, Warwick, Georgetown, Crossroads, Chestertown, Chestermills, Easton, Vienna and Salisbury, to Snowhill; and from Snowhill to Princess Ann; and thence to Salisbury; and from Chestertown to Baltimore, at all times, when a stage passes between those two places. From Elkton to Warwick. From Harford to Bellair. From Baltimore to Annapolis, Upper Marlborough, Piscataway. Port Tobacco, Allen’s Fresh, Newport, and Chaptico, to Leonardtown. From Baltimore to Yorktown in Pennsylvania. From Baltimore, by Fredericktown and Hagerstown, to Chambersburg. From Hagerstown, by Sharpsburg, to Shepherdstown. From Fredericktown, by Peterstown, and Montgomery Courthouse, to Georgetown, on Potowmac. From Hagerstown, by Hancock, Oldtown, Cumberland, Morgantown in Virginia, and Uniontown in Pennsylvania, to Brownsville on the Monongahela. From Alexandria, by Salisbury, Leesburg, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg, Winchester, Stephensburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, and Rockingham Courthouse, to Staunton. From Fredericksburg, by Portroyal, to Tappahannock; thence across the Rappahannock, to Richmond Courthouse, Westmoreland Courthouse, Kinsale on Yeocomico, and Northumberland Courthouse, to Lancaster Courthouse; thence recrossing the Rappahannock, to Urbanna, and from Urbanna to Gloucester Courthouse. From Fredericksburg, by Culpepper and Orange Courthouses, to Charlottesville. From Richmond, by New Castle, Ayletts Warehouse, and Todd’s bridge, to Tappahannock. From Richmond, by Williamsburg, Yorktown and Hampton, to Norfolk. From Richmond, by Columbia and Charlottesville, to Staunton; thence to Lexington, Fincastle, Montgomery Courthouse, Wythe Courthouse, and Abingdon, to Jonesborough, in the territory southwest of the Ohio; thence by Greensville and Jefferson Courthouse, to Knoxville. From Staunton to Bath Courthouse; thence to the Sweet Springs; and thence to Greenbrier Courthouse. From Richmond, by Powhatan Courthouse, Cumberland Courthouse, Prince Edward Courthouse, Lynchburg, New London and Liberty, to Fincastle. From Prince Edward Courthouse, by Charlotte Courthouse, Halifax Courthouse and Pittsylvania Courthouse, to Martinsburg; and thence to Bethania. From Martinsburg to Liberty. From Osborne’s to Bermuda Hundred. From Petersburg, by Cabinpoint, Smithfield and Suffolk, to Portsmouth and Norfolk. From Smithfield, by Southampton Courthouse to Grenville Courthouse. From Petersburg to Halifax, in North Carolina. From Goldson’s, by Saint Tammany’s and Mecklenburg Courthouse, to Halifax Courthouse, in Virginia. From Suffolk, by Edenton, Plymouth, Washington and Newbern, to Wilmington. From Plymouth to Windsor. From Edenton, by Hertford, Nixonton, Sawyer’s ferry in Camden county, to Indian Town in Currituck county. From Halifax to Princeton and Murfreesborough, on Meherrin river; thence to Winton on Chowan river; and thence by the bridge on Bennet’s creek, to R. Mitchell’s, which is on the post road from Suffolk to Edenton. From Halifax, by Blountsville, Williamston and Dailey’s to Plymouth. From Halifax, by Warrenton, Oxford, Hillsborough, Martinville and Salem, to Salisbury. From Salisbury, by Cabarras Courthouse, to Charlotte, to return by Iredel Courthouse to Salisbury. From Salisbury to Fayetteville, to go and return by the following route, alternately: by Montgomery, Anson and Richmond Courthouses, to Fayetteville; thence by Moore and Randolph Courthouses, back to Salisbury. From Halifax, by Tarborough and Greenville, to Washington; and from Tarborough to Lewisburg. From Newbern, by Kingston, Waynesborough and Smithfield, to Raleigh. From Raleigh, by Chapel-hill, to Hillsborough; and from Chapel-hill, to Chatham Courthouse. From Hillsborough, by Person Courthouse, Caswell Courthouse and Rockingham Courthouse, ​Establishment of Post-roads after first June next.to Germanton. From Fayetteville to Wilmington; the mail to go alternately by Elizabethtown and return by South Washington, the cross roads near Duplin Courthouse and Sampson Courthouse. From Salem, by Bethania, Huntsville, Rockford and Wilkes, to Morganton, in North Carolina; and from Morganton, by Lincolnton: to Pinckney Courthouse, in South Carolina. From Cheraw Courthouse to Georgetown. From Camden, by Statesburg, to Charleston. From Charleston, by Coosawatchy to Sister’s ferry, on Savannah river, and thence to the post road from Augusta to Savannah; and from Coosawatchy to Beaufort. From Columbia, by Orangeburg, to Charleston. From Columbia, to Newbury Courthouse and Laurens Courthouse, to Greenville Courthouse. From Edgefield Courthouse to Cambridge, and thence by Abbeville Courthouse, to Pendleton Courthouse. From Columbia, by Winnsborough, Pinckney Courthouse, Spartan Courthouse and Grenville Courthouse, to Washington Courthouse. From Washington Courthouse, by Pendleton Courthouse, to Hatton’s ford, on Tugeloo river; and thence by Franklin Courthouse, Elberton and Petersburg, to Washington, in Georgia. From Augusta to Washington, thence to Greensborough; and thence, by the great falls of Ogechee and Georgetown, to Augusta.
Certain road in Kentucky how long to continue. Provided, That until the Postmaster General shall have made provision for the regular transportation of the mail from Wheeling to Limestone, the present post road from Abington to Danville in Kentucky, shall be continued; and if such provision cannot be made within a reasonable time, then the post road shall be extended from Danville, to Frankfort and Lexington; and thence to Washington.
Postmaster General may provide for carrying mail on certain roads.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to provide, by contract, for the carriage of a mail on any road on which a stage wagon or other stage carriage shall be established, on condition that the expense thereof shall not exceed the revenue thence arising.
And enter into contract not exceeding eight years for extending line of posts.It shall also be lawful for the Postmaster General to enter into contracts, for a term not exceeding eight years, for extending the line of posts, and to authorize the persons, so contracting, as a compensation for their expenses, to receive, during the continuance of such contracts, at rates not exceeding those for like distances established by this act, all the postage which shall arise on letters, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and packets, conveyed by any such post: And the roads designated in such contracts shall, during the continuance thereof, be deemed and considered as post roads, within the provisions of this act: And a duplicate of every such contract shall, within sixty days after the execution thereof, be lodged in the office of the Comptroller of the treasury of the United States.
To settle accounts quarterly, with the Secretary of the Treasury,Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General shall, once in three months, obtain from his deputies, the accounts and vouchers of their receipts and expenditures, and the balance due thereon, and render to the Secretary of the Treasury a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said department, to be adjusted and settled, as other public accounts; and shall pay, quarterly into the treasury of the United States, the balance in his hands: and with persons employed by him.And the Postmaster General, and his assistant, the deputy postmasters, and such as they may employ in their offices, before they enter upon the duties, or be entitled to receive the emoluments of their offices; and the contractors for carrying the mail, and their agents or servants, and all others to whom the mail shall be entrusted, before they commence the execution of the said trust, shall, respectively, take and subscribe before some justice of the peace, the following oath or affirmation, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the office of the Postmaster General:To take oath. “I do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the law in relation to the establishment of post-offices and post roads within the United States.”
Penalty on obstructing the mail and negligence of ferrymen.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: And if any ferryman shall, by wilful negligence, or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the same, he shall forfeit and pay, for each half hour, that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.
Postmaster General to give notice previous to making contract for carrying the mail,Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General, to give public notice in one or more of the newspapers published at the seat of government of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state or states, where the contract is to be performed, for at least six weeks before the entering into any contract for the conveyance of the mail, that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it shall be concluded, describing the places, from and to which, such mail is to be conveyed; the time, at which, it is to be made up; the day and hour, at which, it is to be delivered, and the penalty or penalties for non-performance of the stipulations: He shall, moreover, within thirty days after the making of any contract,and lodge the contract in Comptroller’s office. lodge the same, together with the proposals, which he shall have received respecting it, in the office of the Comptroller of the treasury of the United States: Provided, That no contract shall be entered into, for a longer term than tour years.
Deputy Postmaster to keep an office.Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That every deputy postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend, at such hours, as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and all letters, brought to any post-office, half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office, shall be forwarded therein; except at such post-offices where, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe; but this shall, in no case, exceed one hour.
Allowance to Postmaster General and his assistant.Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That from and after the first day of June next, the Postmaster General shall be allowed, for his services, at the rate of two thousand four hundred dollars per annum, his assistant, at the rate of one thousand two hundred dollars per annum, and the Postmaster General shall be allowed four clerks, whose compensation shall be regulated in such manner, as not to exceed five hundred dollars per annum to each: All the above mentioned compensations to be paid quarterly out of the revenues of the post-office; and no fees or perquisites shall be received by any person employed in the general ​office, on account of the duties to be performed, in virtue of his appointment.
Rates of postage.Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters and persons authorized by the Postmaster General, shall demand and receive, for the conveyance of letters and packets, except such as are hereinafter excepted, the following rates of postage: For every single letter conveyed by land, not exceeding thirty miles, six cents; over thirty miles and not exceeding sixty, eight cents; over sixty, and not exceeding one hundred, ten cents; over one hundred miles, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve cents and a half; over one hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding two hundred, fifteen cents; over two hundred miles, and not exceeding two hundred and fifty, seventeen cents; over two hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding three hundred and fifty, twenty cents; over three hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding four hundred and fifty, twenty-two cents; and more than four hundred and fifty miles, twenty-five cents; and for every double letter, double the said rates; for every triple letter, triple; and for every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, at the rate of four single letters; and in that proportion for any greater weight.
Rates of letters passing by sea.Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That for all letters and packets passing by sea, to and from the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet boats or vessels, the property of, or provided by the United States, postage shall be charged, as follows: For every single letter, eight cents; for every double letter, sixteen cents; for every triple letter, or packet, twenty-four cents; and for every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another, by sea, in any private ship or vessel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the same shall arrive; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the addition of like postage, as other letters are made subject to the payment of, by this act.
Penalty on demanding or receiving beyond stipulated postage.Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That if any deputy postmaster, or other person authorized by the Postmaster General to receive the postages of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or any gratuity or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he shall forfeit, for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be rendered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the United States.
Duty of masters of vessels previous to making report, &c.Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That no ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United States, where a post-office is established, shall be permitted to report, make entry, or break bulk, until the master or commander shall have delivered to the postmaster, all letters directed to any person or persons, within the United States, which, under his care, or within his power, shall be brought in such ship or vessel, except such as are directed to the owner or consignee of the ship or vessel, and except also such as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery, to which such ship or vessel may be bound. Duty of collectors herein.And it shall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require from every master or commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid.
Penalty on persons offending against this act.Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That if any person, other than the Postmaster General, or his deputies, or persons by them employed, shall be concerned in setting up, or maintaining any foot or horse-post, stage wagon, or other stage carriage, on any established post-road, or any packet boat or other vessel, to ply regularly from one place to another, between which a regular communication by water shall be established by the United States, and shall receive any letter or packet, other than newspapers, magazines or pamphlets, and carry the same by such foot or horse-post, stage wagon or other stage carriage, packet boat or vessel, (excepting only such letter or letters, as may be directed to the owner or owners of such conveyance, and relating to the same, or to the person, to whom any package or bundle in such conveyance is intended to be delivered) every person, so offending, shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of fifty dollars: Provided, That it shall be lawful for any person to send letters or packets by a special messenger.
Deputies to account with Postmaster General for way-letters.Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters and other agents of the Postmaster General, shall duly account, and answer to him, for all way letters, which shall come to their hands: And for this purpose, the post-riders and other carriers of the mail, receiving any way letter or letters (and it shall be their duty to receive them, if presented more than two miles from a post-office) shall deliver the same, together with the postage, if paid, at the first post-office, to which they shall afterwards arrive, where the postmaster shall duly enter the same, and specify the number and rate or rates in the post-bill, adding to the rate of each way letter, one cent, which shall be paid by the deputy postmaster, to the mail carrier from whom such way letter shall be received. And that letters, directed to persons living between post-offices, may be delivered, and the postage thereof duly collected, it shall be the duty of the carriers of the mail, to take charge of, and deliver all such letters, as shall, for that purpose, be committed to them, by any deputy postmaster, and collect the postage thereof, which shall be paid over to such deputy postmaster, on demand: And for every letter, so delivered, the mail carrier delivering the same, shall be allowed to demand and receive two cents to his own use, besides the ordinary postage. And if any deputy postmaster, or other agent of the Postmaster General, shall neglect so to account, he or they so offending, shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars: Provided, That no mail carriers shall make such deliveries at any place not on the post-road: Provided also, That the receipt and delivery of letters on the way, between post-offices, shall not be required of the mail carriers, in cases where, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, the time or manner of carrying the mail, or the speed of conveyance, is incompatible with such receipts and deliveries.
On detaining or secreting letters.Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That if any person employed in any of the departments of the general post-office, shall unlawfully detain, delay or open any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and which are intended to be conveyed by post; or if any such person shall secrete, embezzle or destroy any letter or packet entrusted to him, as aforesaid, and which shall not contain any security for, or assurance relating to money, as herein after described, every such offender, being thereof duly convicted shall, for every such offence, be fined, not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence. And if any person employed, as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle or destroy, any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank-note, or bank post-bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the treasury of the United States, note of ​assignment of stock in the funds,Penalty on detaining or secreting letters. letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stock in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to the payment of money, or any bond or warrant, draft, bill or promissory note, whatsoever, for the payment of money; or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same, out of any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, that shall come to his possession, he shall, on conviction for any such offence, suffer death. And if any person, who shall have taken charge of the mail of the United States, shall quit or desert the same, before his arrival at the next post-office, every such person so offending shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, for every such offence. And if any person, concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, shall collect, receive or carry any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.
On persons robbing the mail.Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States, of such mail, or any part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction thereof, suffer death. And if any person shall steal the mail, or shall steal and take from or out of the mail, or from or out of any post-office, any letter or packet, such person shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence.
Deputies to publish every three months a list of letters then on hand, &c.Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, That the deputy-postmasters shall, respectively, publish at the expiration of every three months, or oftener when the Postmaster General shall so direct, in one of the newspapers published at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in their respective offices, or instead thereof, shall make out a number of such lists, and cause them to be posted at such public places in their vicinity, as shall appear to them best adapted for the information of the parties concerned; and at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters to the general post-office, where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if any valuable papers or matter of consequence shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of the newspapers published at the place most convenient to the supposed residence of the owner, if within the United States; and such letter, and the contents, shall be preserved, to be delivered to the person to whom the same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage and the expense of publication. And if such letter, with its contents, be not demanded by the person to whom it is addressed, or the owner thereof, or his lawful agent, within two years after the advertisement thereof, as aforesaid, the said contents shall be applied to the use of the United States, until the same shall be reclaimed by the proprietor thereof. The manner of such application to be specially stated by the Postmaster General to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Certain letters to be conveyed free of postage.Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That the following letters and packets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed by post free of postage, under such restrictions as are herein after provided; that is to say; all letters and packets, to or from the President or Vice President of the United States, and all letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session; all letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury, Comptroller, Register and Auditor of the ​Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, the Secretary at War, Commissioner of the Revenue, the Postmaster General, his assistant and deputies: And the deputy postmasters shall receive, besides their other allowances, two cents for each free letter or packet (their own excepted) which shad be delivered to the person addressed out of their respective offices. Provided, That no person shall frank or inclose any letter or packet, other than his own; but any public letter or packet from the department of the treasury, may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or by the Commissioner of the Revenue, Comptroller, Register, Auditor or Treasurer: And that each person before named shall deliver into the post-office, every letter or packet inclosed to him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place fr:om whence it came by post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon: And provided also, That no letter to or from a deputy postmaster shall be free of postage, if it exceeds half an ounce in weight.
Penalty on counterfeiting the franking of letters.Sec. 20. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall counterfeit the hand-writing of any other person, in order to evade the payment of postage, such person or persons so offending, and being thereof duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of one hundred dollars.
Privilege of newspaper printers.Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and every other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall provide.
And allow commission to deputies.Sec. 23. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby authorized to allow to the deputy postmasters, respectively, such commission on the monies arising from the postage of letters and packets, as he shall think adequate to their respective services and expenses: Not to exceed 20 per cent. except at port where packets arrive,Provided, The said commission shall not exceed twenty per cent. to any one deputy, except the postmaster at the port where the European packets do or shall arrive, to whom such farther allowance, in addition to the emoluments of his office, shall be made, as the Postmaster General shall deem a reasonable compensation for his extra services, in the receipt and dispatch of letters originally received into his office, from on board such packets, and by him forwarded to other offices: and at Burlington on Lake Champlain.And except the deputy postmaster at Burlington, on Lake Champlain, whose compensation the Postmaster General is hereby authorized to augment, on account of his extra trouble in receiving mails passing to and from Canada, to a sum, not exceeding one hundred dollars per annum: Allowance to certain deputies who rise in the night.And except certain deputy postmasters who are obliged to rise in the night to receive mails, whose compensations the Postmaster General is hereby authorized to increase, not exceeding forty per cent. on the amount of monies arising on the postage of letters and packets: Not to exceed $1,800 per annum, Except deputy postmasters at Philadelphia and New York.And provided also, That the compensations aforesaid shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred dollars per annum to any one postmaster, excepting the deputy postmaster at Philadelphia, who shall be allowed a compensation, not exceeding the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars a year, including all perquisites and emoluments, of which a regular account shall be rendered to the Postmaster General: And excepting the deputy postmaster at New York, who shall be allowed a compensation, not exceeding two thousand seven hundred dollars a year, including all perquisites and emoluments, of which a regular account shall be rendered, as aforesaid: Allowance of stationery, &c.Provided also, That the reasonable charges of the deputy postmasters for stationery, for cases necessary for the safe-keeping and convenient distribution of letters, and for advertising the lists of letters, from time to time, remaining in their offices, accompanied with proper vouchers, shall be admitted by the Postmaster General, and placed to their credit: Extra allowance to postmaster of Philadelphia.And there shall also be allowed to the deputy postmaster of Philadelphia, for his extraordinary expenses incurred in the execution of his office, under the existing law, an additional compensation, at the rate of eight hundred and fifty dollars a year, to be computed from the first day of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, to the first day of June next.
Appropriation of penalties, &c.Sec. 25. And be it further enacted, That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures incurred under this act, shall be, one half for the use of the person or persons informing and prosecuting for the same, and the other half to the use of the United States.
Postmaster General to make provision for the conveyance of letters by sea.Sec. 26. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General, to make provision, where it may be necessary, for the receipt of all letters and packets intended to be conveyed by any ship or vessel, beyond sea, or from any port of the United States to another port therein; and the letters so received shall be formed into a mail, sealed up, and directed to the postmaster of the port, to which ​such ship or vessel shall be bound. And for every letter or packet, so received, there shall be paid, at the time of its reception, a postage of one cent, which shall be for the use of the postmasters, respectively, receiving the same. And the Postmaster General may make arrange­ments with the postmasters in any foreign country, for the reciprocal receipt and delivery of letters and packets, through the post-offices.
Postmasters &c. exempt from militia duty.Sec. 27. And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters, and the persons employed in the transportation of the mail, shall be exempt from militia duties, or any fine or penalty for neglect thereof.
Letter carriers may receive two cents for each letter.Sec. 28. And be it further enacted, That letter carriers shall be employed at such post-offices as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the delivery of letters in the places, respectively, where such post-offices are established; and for the delivery of each such letter, the letter carrier may receive of the person to whom the delivery is made, two cents: Provided, That no letter shall be delivered to such letter carrier for distribution, addressed to any person who shall have lodged at the post-office a written request, that his letters shall be detained in the office. And for every letter lodged at any post-office, not to be carried by post, but to be delivered at the place where it is so lodged, the deputy postmaster shall receive one cent of the person to whom it shall be delivered.
When this act shall be in force.Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force, from the first day of June next.
Approved, May 8, 1794.