The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-07

W ABSOLUTELY Dotu6 W w
cost OF oxpedtins lis transportation, and the mean
at his disposal under his control for edectng the
same.
SEC. 3 .4ad be Il further enacted That the twenty
seventh section OF the act Of Congress entitled Al
act TO reduce into the several acts Ior establish
ing and regulating the Post Office Department" APP
proved and signed the third day Of March, IN the yea
one thousand eight hundred and twenty five, and al
other acts and parts Of acts granting and comforting
upon any person whatsoever the right privilege
receive aud transmit through the mail free of postage
letters, packets, newspapers, periodicals, or othe
matters, be- and the same are hereby utterly abroga
ted and repealed.
Sac 6. find be Il further enacted, That from anC
after the passage Of this act all officers of the Govern
ment OF the United States, heretofore having III,
ranking privilege, shall be authorized and required
to keep an account OF all postage charged to and pay
able by Them, respectively, upon letter. packages OF
other matters received through the mail touching
the duties or business of their respective offices anc
said accounts for postage upon being duly verified BY
said officers, respectively, shall be allowed aud paid
quarter yearly, out OF the contingent fund Of the bu
reau or department TO which the officers aforesaid
may respectively belong or be attached. And the
thred Assistant Postmasters General shall be emit
tied to have RENTED by the postmaster in ashing
ton all postage charged upon letters, packages, OF
other matter, received by them respectively through
the mail, touching the business Of the Post Office De-
partment, the particular branch Of that business
committed to them, respectively and each of the
said Assistant Postmasters General shall be, and
hereby is authorized to transmit through the mail
free Of postage, any letters, packages or other mat
tiers relating exclusively TO his official duties, TO
the business Of the Post Office Department; but he
shall every such case endorse the back OF the
letter or package so to be- sent free OF postage,
his own signature, the words "oticla business
And for any such endorsement falsely made, the per-
so offending shall forfeit and pay hree hundred
dollars. And the several deputy postmasers through
out the United States shall be authorized to charge,
aud have allowed TO them 10 the settlement of their
accounts with the Post Office Department all postage
which they may have paid or had charged TO them,
respectively for letters, packages, or other matters,
received by them the bu,iness Of their respective
Offices or Of the Post Office Department upon a yerif-
cation oath of their accoents for the same aud the
transmission Of the charged letters vouchers and
the said several deputy postmasters shall be, and
hereby are, authorized To send through the mail free
Of postage all letters, and packages which II may be
their Duty or they may have occasion, to transmit to
any person or place, and which shall relate exclusive
y to the business of their pectye Offices TO the
business of the Post Office Department but IN every
such case, the deputy postmaster sending any such
letter package shall endorse thereon over his own
signature, the words Post Office business" And
for any and every such endorsement falsely made the
person making the shall forfeit and pay three
hundred dollars. And when the commissions Of any
postmaster amount TO less than twenty-five dollars
per annum iii shall be lawful for the Postmaster
Geperal to increase the rate of his commissions pro-
ylded that they do not exceed fifty per on letter
postage accruing at such office, and the Postmaster
General is hereby required TO cause accounts to be
kept Of the postage that would be chargeabe at the
rates prescribed 10 this act upon all matter passing
free through the mail according to the provisions OF
this act and the sums thus chargeable shall be paid
10 the Post Office Department from the contingent
funds Of the Houses Of Congress and of the other
Departments of the Government for which such IN il
service may have been performed and where there is
no such fund that they be paid out of the Treasury OF
the United States.
Sec. T. had be il further enacted That the act Of
Congress entitled, " An act authorizing the Govern
of the several States to transmit by mail certain
books and documents approved June the thrtieth
one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, shall
main and continue in full force any thing hereinbe.
fore the contrary outstanding; and the Mem.
bers of Congress the Delegates from Territories the
Secretary OF the Senate, and the Clerk of the House
of Representatives, shall be- and they are hereby
authorized TO transmit, free Of postage TO any post
office within the United States, the Territories
thereof, any documents which have been or may be
printed by order of either House of Congress, any
thing in this law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 8, find be further enacted That each Mem.
Der of the Senate, each Member of the House
Of Representatives,, and each Delegate from Ter.
ritory of the United States, the Secretary Of the
Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Represents
tives may during each session of Congress and for
period ofthirty days before the ncement and
thirty days after the end of each and every session
Congress, receive through the mail free of postage
any letter, newspaper or packet, not exceeding two
ounces in weight and all postage charged upon any
letters packages, petitions, memorials, or other mat
tiers or things received during any session of Con.
gIess, by any Senator, Member, Delegate of the
House of Representatives, touching his official ie
gsaiive duties, by reason of any excess OF weight
above two ounces, Of the matter thing received
shall be paid out OF the contingent fund OF the House
of which the person receiving the same may be
member. And they shall have the right to franz
written Letters from themselves during the whole
year, as now authorized by law
Sec. g. find be ii further enacted, That it shall no
be lawful for any person or persons TO establish any
private express expresses, for the conveyance, no.
in any manner to cause to be conveyed, or provide
for the conveyance or transportation, by regula
trips at stated periods or intervals, from one city
town. other place, any other city. town, place
in the u United States between and from and to which
cities, towns, other places, the United States mai
is regularly transported under the authority of thu
Pot Office Department, of any letters packets, oil
packages of letters, other matter properly transmit
table Ia the United States mail, except newspapers
pamphlets, magazines, and periodicals.; and each
every person offending against this provision or aid
ing ass sting therein, or acting as such private
EXPIRE IS, shall Tor each time any letter or letters
packet or packages other matter properly transmit
"ple ny haI, eASePs ho"'P"P'''t P"'HPh'oN', p'"S'
zines and peri deals shall may be- by him. her
hem or through his, her, or their means or instru
mentality, whole or in part, conveyed or transpor
ted, contrary to the true intent, spirit and meaning
o this section, forfeit and pay the sum of one hun
drsd and fifty dollars.
Sec. 10. find be further enacted, That it shall no
be lawful for any stage COACH railroad car, steamboat
packet boat other vehicle or vessel, nor any of tn
owners, managers servants, crews of either which
regularly performs trips at stated periods on pos
route or between two more cities, towns, or othe
places, from one TO the other of which the Unite
States mail is regularly conveyed under the auhorit,
Of the Post Office Del artmeDt, to transport con
vey otherwise than in the mail any letter or letters
packet packages Of letters, other mailabe mat
ter whatsoever, except such may have relation
some part of the cargo of such steamboat, packe