The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-10
BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, PASSED
AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE
TWENTY EIGHTH CONGRESS.
[ PUBLIo-No. 80. |

L
TWENTY EIGHTH CONGRESS.
PUBLIo-No. 80.
AN ACT to provide fof lbe transportation Of the
mail between the United States and foreign coun-
tries, and for other purposes
BE enacted BY The Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of the United States Of America IN Congress
Died. That the Postmaster General Of the United
states be- and be is hereby authorized, under the
srctiJns and provisions Of the existing laws to con
tract Tor the transportation of he United States mail
between any ofthe ports OF The United States and
port or ports ofsny foreign power, whenever in his
opinion The public Interest will thereby be promoted
and II shall he his duty TO report the next ensuing
Congress copy Of each of said contracts with .
statement ofthe amount Ct postage derived under the
same far the returns OF the department will en-
able him 10 do. And such contracts may be made IL
Il shall appear TO the Postmaster General 10 be re
CURED by The public interest, for any greater period
than four years, and not exceeding ten years.
Sec. g. find beu farther enacted THAI ell such con-
tracts shall be made with citizens Of the United
States, and the mail 10 be transported In American
vessels, by Amencan citizens. Each contract entered
into under The provisions of this act sides the usu-
al sPulaons Tor the night of the Postmaster General
TO discontinue the same, shall contain the further
pulation that II may at any tine, be terminated by
JOINT resolution of the two houses Of Congress
Sec. g. find be Il further enacted That the rates of
postage 10 be charged and eollecird all letters
packages, newspapers, and pamphlets, other print
ed matter between the ports he United States and
the ports OF foreign governments enumerated herein
transpor ed In the nited States mail nder the pro-
visions of this act, shalt be follows Upon all let
tiers and packos not exceeding one-half ounce ~
weight, between any OF the ports OF the niied
States and the ports Of England or France or any
other foreign port not less than three Thousand miles
distant twenty-our CENTS with the inland postage OF
the Uni ed States added when sent through the
United States mad to or from the post Office a port
OF the Unned States; upon letters and packets over
one-hait an ounce In weight, and not exceeding one
ounce, forty EIGHT censj and for every additional
hall ounce or fraction of ounce, fifteen cents up
on all letters and packets not exceeding one-h al {
ounce sent through the United States mail between
the potts of the United States and any of the West
India islands, or islands in the gulf of Mexico ten
cents; and twenty upon letters and packets not
exceeding once and five cents for every add
uonal half ounce or fraction of ounce upon each
newspaper, pamphlet, and price current, sent in the
mail between the United States and any of the ports
and places above enumerated, three cents with in
land United States pos az added when the same is
ansPor' to or from said port Of the United States
in the Uni ed States mail.
Sec. a. lind be Il further tnactsd That it shall not
be lawful Tor any person TO carry or transport any let
ter, packet newspaper, or printed circular or price
current, Except newspapers IN use md intended
for circulation IN the country which such vessel
may be bound) board the vessels that may herea-
Ter transport the United States mail as provided for
IN this act and Tor every violation of This provision
penalty OF five hundred dollars is hereby imposed,
TO be recovered by presentment, by information or
q,,i tam acon-onehalf for the use of the informer
and The other half for the of the Post Office De-
paTtmen,.
Sec. 5. find be it further enacted That if any per-
son or persons shall Jorge counterfeit or shall Ut
ter or USE knowingly, any counterfeit stamp of the
Post Office Department Of the United States issued
by authority of this ACT by any other act of Con-
gress, within the United States or the post Office
stamp OF any foreign Government, he shall be adj
judged guilty of felony, and on conviction thereof in
any court having jurisdiction OF the same shall I'M
drgo confinement at hard labor for any length of
Tine not less than two years, nor than ten, at
the discretion of the court.
Sec. D. lind be further enacted That the Posmas-
ter General or the Secretary OF Slate, be- and he is
hereby authorized to empower the consuls of the
Unit States to pay the foreign postage of such let
teIs destined Tor the United States nav be detain-
ed at the ports of foreign countries for the non-pay
N mt Of postage; which postage shall be by the con-
sui marked as paid b. him and the amount thereof
shall be collected IN the United States as other post
age, on the delivery of the letters, and repaid to said
consul credited on his accoudt at the State Denart
ment
Sec. 7. find be further enacied That the Postmas-
ter General shall In all cases Of offers to contract for
carrying the mail between any of the uorts of the
United States and any foreign port place give the
preference TO such bidder ior The contract a. .ha
propose to carry the mail in steam ship or ships, and
the said contractor STIMULATING to deliver said ship or
ships 10 the United States to their proper officer
upon demand made for the purpose of being convert
ed into vessel or vessels Of war the United States
being bound, on their part to pay to said owner or
owners the fair full value of every such ship or vessel
at the time of such delivery said value to be ascer-
tanned by four appraisers to be appointed two by the
President of the United States, and two by the own
er or owners and in of disagreement among
said appraiser the President of the United States to
select and appoint an umpire who shall fl the value
Sec. .. lind be IL J6ther enactsd, That the Post
master General may, If he shall deem il to be for the
public interest, make contracts to continue not ey
ceedIng ten years, for The transportation of the mail
iron place to place in the United States in steamboats,
by sea and on the Gulf Of Mex and on The Mssis.p-
p rver from the mouth thereof up to the city of New
orleans on me conditions specified in the last pre-
cedng section of this act.
Approved, March 3, ls45