Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-26


That if any person shall rip, cut, tear,
burn, or otherwise injure any port
mantus, valise, or other bag used, or
designed to be used by any person act
ing under the authority of the post
master4general or any person in
whom his powers are vested in the
conveyance of any mail. latter, packet.
newspaper or pamphlet, or shall draw
or break any. staple, or loosen any part
of any lock, chain or strap attached or
belonging to any such valise, portman-
tua, or bag, with an intent to rob or
steal any mail, letter, packet, news
lpaper or pamphlet, or 10 render eli
Their of the same insecure, every such
Ioffender upon conviction shall for e.
very such offence pay sum not ex-
feeding FIVE hundred dollars, or be
Imprisoned not exceeding three years
at the discretion of the court before
whom such conviction is had.
Sec. 81. And be it further enacted,
That every person who from and after
the passage of this act shall procure,
aid, advise, or assist in the doing or
preparation of any of the acts or
crimes by ;his act forbidden to be done
or performed, shall be SUBJECT to the
same penalties and punishments as the
persons are su',ject to who shall actu-
lily do or perpetrate any Of the said
acts or crimes according TO the provi..
sion of this act.
Sec. 30. And be IL further enacted
That every person who shall be i'm
prisoned by a Judgment of court un-
der and by virtue of the eighteenth,
ninetcentb, twentieth or twenty-first
actions Of this act, shall be kept at
hard labor during the period OF such
imprisonment.
Sec. 90. And he it further enacted.
That the. postmasters shall respec-
lys'ssly, publish, at tho expiration of G.
very thres. -rs,r.---,--, or oitener, 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, list of
all the letters remaining in their res.
pective Offices, or instsad taereof, shall
| make out a number & SUCH lists, and
! cause Shem to be posted at such pub.
lie places in their vicinity, as shall ap-
pear TO them best adapted for the in
formation 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; ard if any valuable papers
or matters of consequence shall be
found therein, it shall be the duty Of
the postmaster general 10 return such
letter to the writer thereof, or cause z
\ descriptive list thereof to be inserted
4 in one OF the newspapers, published a
4 the place most convenient to the sup
posed residences of the owner, if with.
in the United States and such let
ter, and the consnts, shall be preserv.
ed TO be- delivered 10 the person tt
whom the same shall be addressed
upon payment OF the postage, and the
&xpeBce OF PUBLICATION. And if sucl
letter, with its contents, be not de
manded by the person TO whom it i
addressed, or the owner thereof, ot
his lawful agent, within two years af
ter the advertisement thereof as afore
/ said, the said contents shall be applied
! to the use OF the United States, unit
the same shall be- reclaimed by the
proprietor thereof. The manner o
such application to be specially stated
by the postmaster-general TO the Sc
cretary of the Treasury.
/, Sec. "a. And be it further enacted
That letters & packets, TO & from I'll,
following officers of the u. States shall
1e received & conveyed by post, fre'
i postage. Each postmaster, provided
ach OF his letters or packets shall no
exceed half an ounce in weight; eacl
member Of the Senate, and each mem
ler and d legate OF the House o
representatives to the Congress o
he United States the Secretary O
;he Senate and Clerk Of the House o
Representatives, provided each let
ser or packet shah not exceed tw
ounces in weight, and during thei
actual attendance in any session 0