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

BE 1t enacted by the senate and House OF he
<esentatirps of the United States of .amprica in
bngress assembled. That there be established, at
y Seat OF the Government of the United States,
General Post Office, under the direction of Post
Sasler General. The Postmaster General shall
bpoint two Assistants, and such Clerks as may be
Ecessary for the performance of the business OF his
fice, and as are authorized by law /; and shall pro-
bre and to be kept, Seal for the said Office,
hich shall be affixed to commissions of Postmasters,
Id used 10 authenticate all transcripts and copies
hich may be required from the Department. He
all establish Post Offices, and appoint Pnstmasters,
| all such places shall appear to him expedient,
the post roads that are, or may be, established
LAM. He shall give his Assistants, the Postmas-
Rs, and all other persons whom he shall employ,
! who may be employed, in any Of the departments
| the General Post Office, instructions relative to
cir duty He shall provide for the carriage of the
all on all pos. roads that are, or may be, establish
by law, and as often as he, having regard to the
oductiveness thereof, and other circumstances,
Jail think proper He may direct the route or
lad, where there are more than one, between places
ksgnated by law for post road, which route shall
considered the post road. He shall obtain from
e Postmasters, their accounts and vouchers foi
eir receipts and expenditures, once 10 three
onhs, or of,ener, with the balances thereon arising,
favor of The General Post Office. He shall nay
expenses which may arise 10 conducting the Post
Xtice, and in the conveyance OF the mail. and all
her necessary expenses arising on the collection
II the revenue, and management OF the General
bst Office. He shall prosecute offences agalns
be Post Office Establishment. He shall, once in
Ice months, render to the Secretary OF the Trea
DIV, quarterly account OF all the receipts and
endures 10 the said Department, to be adjusted
pd settled as other public accounts. He shall, also
Ppernicnd the business Of the Department, in all
Dc duties that are, or may be, assigned to il: Pro
&ded That, in case of the death, resignation or
kova from office, OF the Postmaster General, all
Is duties shall be performed by his Senior Assis-
MT, until successor shall be appointed, and ar.
4ye at the General Office, to perform the business.
Sec. 2 .Hnd be ii further enacted, That the Post
FASTER General, and all other persons employed in
De General Post Office, or in the care, custody, or
Pnveyance OF the mail, shall, previous to entering
pom the duties assigned To them, The execution oil
&er trusts, and before they shall be entitled TO
Five any emoument therefor, respectively take
d subscribe the following oath, affirmation, be-
re some magistrate, and cause certificate there
to be filed in the General Post Office: 81, A b,
swear OF Affirm las the case may BED that will
8thfully perform all the duties required OF me, and
STAN from every thing forbidden by the laws in
3laon to the establishment of the Post Office and
psf Roads within the United States" Every per-
re, custody, conveyance, management of the
al shall be subject to all pains, penalties, and for
lures, tor violating the inlunctions, or negecting
Me duties required of him by the laws relating to
establishment Of the Post Office and Post Roads,
3heiher such person shall have taken the oath or
rmation, above prescribed not.
aec $. find be 1t further enacted, That it shall
The duty OF the Postmaster General upon the ap
Rlhment OF any Postmaster, to require, and take,
~ such Postmaster, bond, with good and approved
cutlty, in such penalty as he may Judge sufficient
ndltloned for the faithful discharge of all the du-
rs Of such postmaster, required by law, or which
nv be required by any instruction, or general rule,
IN the government of the Department: Pr0rided
8fPter That, if default shall be made BY the Post
sYas1er aforesaid, at any time, and the Postmaster
general shall all to institute suit against such Post
y aster and said sureties, for two years from and
Isl such default shall be made, them and in that
3se the said sureties shall not be held liable to the
&Ah'ted States, nor shall suit be instituted against
lem.
IA Sec. 4. and be it further enacted, That The Post
aser General shall cause mail to be carried from
8e nearest Post Office any established post road
I'M The Court House of any county which is now, OF
10y hei eater be, established in any of The States
III ierritorles of the United States. and which is
sX hout mail and the road, on which such mai
III all De transported, shall become post road, and
continue until the transportation thereon shall
ase. It shall, also, be lawful for the Postmaster
u Fneral to enter into contracts, for term not ex
q eaing Tour years, for extending the line of posts
n 70 authorize the persons, so contracting, as
'apensatlon tor their expenses, to receive, during
continuance OF such contracts, at rates not ex
eding these for like distances, established by this
all the postage which shall arise on letters, news
efs,magazlnes, pamphlets, and packets, convey.
u ny any such posts and the roads, designated in
ca contracts, shall, during the continuance thereof
deemed and considered as post road with in the
1 pvison Of this act and duplicate oil every such
hfact shall. within sixty days after the execution
feoi' be lodged 10 the office Of the Comptroller o.
Treasury Of the United States.