Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-04-19

~ obNb TahsINt PoAAi'A~'ASNSt ~ c"s5t
with an intent 10 rob, or steal any mall,
letter, packet, newspaper, or pamphlet,
or 10 render either OF tue same insecure,
every such offender, upon conviction,
shall, for every such otteuce, pay SUM
not less than one hundred dollars, nor
exceeding FIVE hundred dollars, OF be
imprisoned, not less than one year, nor
exceeding three years, al the discretion
Of the court before whom such convic-
fon is had.
Sec. ~. find be IL further enacted,
Ihat every person, who, from and alter
the passage of this act, shall procure,
and advise, or assist, 10 the doing or per
peraion OF any of the acts or crimes by
this ect forbidden, shall be subject TO the
same penalties and punishmenVs as the
persons are subject to, who shall actu-
ally do or perpetrate any OF the said acts
or crimes, according 10 The provision OF
this act.
Sec 25. ind be il further enacted,
That every person who shall be impri-
soned by q Judgment of court, under and
by virtue Of the twenty-irst, twenty-se
cond, aud twenty third, or twenty fourth
sections of this act, shall be kept at hard
labor during the period of such impri-
sonment.
Sec. %. ind be it further enacted,
That the Postmasters shall, respective
Iy, publish, at the expiration of every
three months, or ottener, when the Post
master General shall SO direct, in one OF
the newspapers published at or nearest
sht place OF his residence, for three sue
cessive weeks, list of all the letters re-
manning in their respective offices, or,
instead thereof, shall make out a mum
Der OF such lists, and cause them 10 be
posted at such public places in their vi
cinily, as shall appear to them best adapt
cd for the information Of the parties con-
cerned; and, at he 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 Of
Gee, where the same shall be opened
and Inspected; and fary valuable papers
or matters OF consequence, shall be found
therein, it shall the be duty of the Post
IN sler General 10 return such letter to The
writer thereof, or cause descriptive list
shereofto be inserted in one OF the news
papers published at the place most con-
venient to the supposed residence of the
owner, if within the United States and
such letter, and the contents, shall be
preserved, 10 be delivered to the person
TO whom the same shall be addressed,
upon payment of the postage and the ex-
pense Of publication. And il such letter
contain MONEY, the Postmaster General
may appropriate il to the use of the De- /
partment, keeping an account thereof
and the amount shall be paid by the De
parment to the rightIul claimant as soon
es he shall be found
Sec. 27. ind be il further enacted,
That letters and packets to and from the
following officers of The United States,
shall be received and conveyed by post,
free of postage. Each Postmaster, pro- +
vided each of his letters or packets shall +
not exceed half an ounce 10 weight; each I
member OF the Senate, and each mem
Der and delegate of the House OF Repre-
sentalives of the Congress Of The United
States, the Secretary oil the Senate, and /
Clerk of the House Of Representatives,
provided each letter or packet, Except !
documents printed by the order of either
House OF Congress) shall not exceed two
ounces in weight, and during their ac:u-
al attendance in any Session of Congress,
and sixty days before and after such ses
sion; and in case Of excess of weight,
that excess alone shall be paid for; the
President of the United States, Vice
President, the Secretary Of State, of the
Treasury, of War, Of the Navy, Ator-
ney General, Postmaster Genera, and
Assistants Postmaster General the
Comp,rolers of the Treasury, Auditors,
Register, Treasurer, and Commissioner
Of the General Land Office, and such in.
dividual who shall have been, or may
hereafter be, President of the United
States, and each may receive newspapers
by post, free of post sc: Provided, Thai
Postmasters shall not receive, free oil
postage, more than one daily newspaper,
each, or what is equivalent thereto nor
shall members of the Senate, or Of the
House Of Representatives, the Clerk of
tho House, or Secretary of The Senate,
receive newspapers, free of postage, af-
ter their privilege of ranking shall
cease.
Sec. %. Ind be il further enacted,
That, if any person shall frank any let
ter or letters, other that those written by