American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-03-18

next above mentioned, such offender or offenders,
on conviction thereof shall be imprisoned not less
than two, nor exceeding ten, years And II any
person shall take any letter. packet not contain
ing any article Of value, evidence thereof, out OF
post Office, or shall open any letter, or packet
which shall have been ~ postolfce, or IN custody
OF mail carrier, before it shall have been delivered
to the person whom il is directed, With design
to obstuct the correspondence. to pry into anohes
business or secrets: or shah secrete, einbezzle or
destroy, any such mail letter, packet such Offend
er upon conviction, shall pay, for every such offence,
sum moi exceeding five hundred dollars, and be
imprisoned, not exceeding twelve mon'hs
Sec. %. find be ii further enarted, That, II any
person shall rip, cut, tear burn or otherwise ,nlnre
any valise, portmanteau. or other bag, used or de-
signed to be used, by any person acting under the
authority OF the Postmaster General or any person
In whom his powers are vested. in conveyance OF
any mall letter, packet, or newspaper, or pamphlet,
or shall draw break any staple, or loosen any part
OF any lock, chain, or strap attached to- or belong
ing to any such valise, portmanteau, or bag, with
an intent to rob, steal any mail, letter. packet,
newspaper, phamphet, or to render either OF the
same insecure, every such offender, upon convic
non. SHALL for every such offence, pay sum not
less than one hundred dollars, nor exceeding five
hundred dollars be imp, soned. not less than one
year, exceeding three years, at the discretion OF
the court before whom such conviction is had
Sec. "a. Ind BE- it further enacted, That every
person. who from and after the passage OF this act,
shall procure, and advise, assist in the doing or
preparation Of any of the acts crimes by this act
forbidden, shall be subject to the same penalties and
punshments the persons are subject TO, who shall
actually do or pcrpetrate any Of the SAID acts or
crimes, according TO the provision oil this act
Sec. % Ind be it further enactrd, That every
person who shall be imprisoned by Judgment Of
court under and by virtue Of the twenty first, twenty.
second, twenty third or twenty fourth sections OF
this act shall be kept hard labor during the period
OF such imprisonment
Sec. 26. .4nd be it further enacted, That the
Postmasers SHALL respectively, publish at the ex.
piraion OF every three months or oitener, when the
Postmaster General shall direct, in one OF the
newspapers published at or nearest the place OF his
Residence, Tor thu &c successive weeks list oil all
the letters remaining in their respective offices, or,
instead thereof, shall make ou number Of sue
lists, and cause them TO be posted al such public
places III heir vicinity. shall appear to them best
adapted for the ipfo' nation OF the parties concerned
and, at the expiration of the next three months, shall
send such OF the said letters then remain on hand
as dead letters, to the General Post Office, where
the same shall be opened and inspected; and any
valuable papers matters Of consequence, shall be
found therein it shall be the duty oil The Postmaster
General to return such letter to the thereof
or cause descriptive list thereof to be inserted IN
OHC ut tnC newspapers puLHoHeu dt tiC pidsc tnOSt
convenient 10 the supposed residence oil the owner,
If within the United States; and such letter, and
the contents shall be preserved 10 be delivered TO
the person 10 whom the same shall be addressed,
upon payment OF the postage and the expense Of
publication. And ii such letter contain money, the
Postmaster General may appropriate II to the use
OF the Department. keeping an account the, col, and
the amount shall be paid by the Department to The
rightful claimant so soon as he shall be found.
1.J E., "a
and packets 10 and from the foliowin officers OF the
United States, shall be received and conveyed by
post, free Of postage. Each Postmaster. provided
each Of his letters packets shall not exceed halt
ounce in weight; each member Of the Senate,
and each member and delegate of the House OF
Representatives Of the Congress fthe United States
The Secretary of the Senae and Clerk of the House
of Representatives, provided each letter pac ket.
Except documents printed by the order Of either
House Of Congress) shall not exceed two ounces 10
weight, and during their actual attendance in any
Session OF Cong ess, aud sixty days before aid after
such session and in oil excess oil weight, that
alone shall be paid for; the Preside ct of the
United States, Vice President, the Secretaries OF
State Of the Treasury. of War, Of the Navy, Auor-
ney General, Postmaster General and Assistants
Postmaster General the Comp rollers Of the Urea
sury, Auditors, Register, Treasurer, and Commits
sioner of the General Land Office, and su, lndi,i
dual who shall have been, or may hereafter be. Pre-
sident OF the United States, and each raw receive
newspapers by post, free OF postage: Provided
That Postmasters shall not receive. Tree of postage
more than daily newspaper, each, or what is
equivalent thereto; nor shall members of the Senate
OF the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the
House, or Secretary of the Senate, receive news
papers, free Of POSTAGE after their privilege OF frank
ing shall cease.
Sec. g. .and be it further enacted, That, if any
person shall frank any letters other that those writ
ten bv himself, or by his order, the business o.
his office, he shall, conviction thereof, pay line
OF ten dollars, and it shall be the especial duty O