Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-19
By H0t&ovity.
AN ACT
Regulating the Post Office establish.

II stGS suC Il Oot OAASC CotdOl1SIl-
( mcat.
]DE it enacted BY the Senate ana
/ - House Of Representatives of the
United States os America, in Congress
tassembletl, That there, be established
at the seat OF government ofithe.. U6i-
ted States, general Post Office, un.
der the direction of a Post master G en-
]eral. The Post Master General shall
appoint two assistants, and such clerks
as may be necessary for performing
the business of his Office. He shall
establish post eifices and appoint Post
Masters, at all such places as shall ap.
pear to him expedient, on the posr
roads that are or may be established
i by law. He shall give his assistants,
the post-masters, and all other per-
sons whom he shall employ, or who
may be employed in any of the de
partments of the general post Office,
instructions relative TO their duty, he
shall provide for the carriage Of the
mail on all post-roads that are or NAV
be established by law, and as of,en as
he, having regard TO the productive
ness thereof, and other circumstances,
shall think proper, he may direct the
route or road, where there are more
than one between places designated
by law for a post-road, which route
shall be considered the posi- road. He
shall obtain from the post masters their
receipts and expenditures once in three
-.l, <~fra x,,,.E IL L
thereon arising in favor ofthe general
ipost-ofiice. He shall pay all expences
which may arise in conducting the
post-ofhce, and in the conveyance of
the mail, and all other necessary ex-
penses arising on the collection Of the
revenue and management of the gen
eral post Office. He shall prosecute
ofenses against the post.office esea-
blishmcnt. He shall once in three
months, render 70 the Secretary of the
Treasury aquarterly account of all the
receipts and expenditures in the said
department, TO be adjusted and settled
as other public accounts. He shall al
so suprrinrend the business of the de-
partment in all the duties that are or
may be assigned to it, Provided, That
IN case of the death, resignation or
removal from Office of the Post Master
General, all his duties shall be per.
formed by his senior assistant, until a
successor shall be appointed aud arrive
at the General Post Office to perform
the business.
Sec Q. And ba it further enacted,
That the Post Master General, and all
other persons employed Ia the General
Post Office, or liz the care, custody,
or conveyance of The mail, shall, pre-
vious to entering upon the duties as.
Islgned to them, CIR the execution OF
their trusts, aud before they shall be
entitled TO receive any emolumen,
therefor, respectively, take and sub
scribe the following oath or affirmation
b. fore some magistrate, and cause q
icertihcate thereof to be filed in the
! General Post Office; CT. A. b. dc
swear, or affirm Gas the case may be,
| that Twill faithfully perform all the
duties required of me, and abstain from
every thing forbidden by the laws il
relation to the establishment of ths
Post Office and post roads within the
i United States" Every person who
shall be in any manntr employed IT
the care, custody, conveyance. OF
management Of the mail, shall be sub
jeet to all pains, penalties and forfei
lures for violating the injunctious, OF
neglectiEg the duties required of hin
by the laws relating 10 the establish.
ment the Post Office and post-ro,ds
whe sher such persons shall have ,akcr
the oath or Affirmation above prescrib
ed or not.
II Sec. 8. And be it further enacted
That it shall be lawful for the Post
msster-general to provide by contract
er the carriage Of the mail on any
road on whisis stage Wagon or o
!her stage ssfhage shall he established
on condition that the expence thereo
shall not exceed the revenue theme,
arising. 1t shall also be lawful for III,
. POSTMASTER general to enter into con
tracts tor a term not exceeding eigh
Hyears Tor extending tne line Of post
andio authorize the persons so con