The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-06
BY .AU THORITY /.
Public Acts
Passed during The second session Of The Thirty first
Congress.
PuBLIc-No. l2.l

AN ACT 10 reduce and modify the rates OF post
age in the United States, and for other purposes
BE il enacted 6y The Senate and House Of Rsprssen
faliuss of the United States Of 4neTtcG IA congress
assembled That. from the thirtieth day oil June,
eighteen hundred and hity one IN lieu oil the rates
of postage nov established by law, there shall be
charged the following rates, TO wit: For every
single letter in manuscript, or paper oil any KIND
unon which information shall be asked for or COM
niunicated in writing, or by marks or signs, con-
veyed in the mail, for any distance between places
within the United States not exceeding three thou
sand miles, when the postage upon such letter shall
have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when
the postage thereon shall not have been prepad and
Tor any distance exceeding three thousand miles,
double these rates for every such single letter or
paper when conveyed wholly in part by sea-
and TO or from foreign country, for any distance
twenty five hundred miles, twents cents, and
for any distance under twenty five hundred miles,
ten cents, Texceptiug, however. all cases where
such postage have been shall be adjusted at dif
frrent rates by postal treaty or convention already
concluded or hereafter TO be made;) ana Tor
double letter, there shall be charged double the
above specified; and for treble letter. treble
those rates; and for quadruple letter, quadrupie
those rates. and every letter or parcel not exceed
ing half an ounce in weight, shall be deemed
single letter; and every additional weight of hall
an ounce additional weight OF less than hall an
ounce shall be charged with an additional single
postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in
any post office, not for transmission, but for de-
livery only, shall be charged with postage at the
rate of one cent each and all letters shall hereafter
be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for IN
any post office, shall be charged with one cent in
addition TO the regular postage. both to be ac-
counted for as other hostages now are.
SEC. 2. Ind be IL further enacted, That all news
papers not exceeding three ounces in weight, sent
from the Office Of publication TO actual and bona
tide Subscribers, shall be charged with postage
follows. TO wit: All newspapers published weekly
only, shall circulate in the mail free Of postage
within the county where published, and that the
postage on the regular number OF a newspaper pub
lished weekly for any distance not exceeding hfty
miles out of the county where published, shall be
five cents per quarter for any distance exceeding
fifty miles and not exceeding three hundred miles,
ten cents per quarter for any distance exceeding
three hundred miles and not exceeding one thou
sand, fifteen cents per quarter; for any distance
exceeding thousand miles and not exceeding
two thousand miles, twenty cents per quarter; Tor
any distance exceeding two thousand miles and
not exceeding four thousand miles, twenty five
cents per quarter; and for any distance exceeding
four thousand miles, thirty cents per quarter and
all newspapers published monthly, and sent to &C
tusl and bona fide subscribers, shall be charged
with one. fourth the foregoing rates; and on all
such newspapers published semi monthly shall be
charged with half the foregoing rates; and pa
pers published semi weekly shall be charged dou-
bic those rates. tri-weekly treble those rates and
oftener than tri-weekly, five times those rates
And there shall be charged upon every other news
paper, and each circular not sealed handbil, en-
craving, pamphlet, periodical, magazine, book,
and every other description of printed matter,
which shall be unconnected with any manuscript,
or written matter, and which il may be lawful to
transmit through the mail, of no greater weight
than ounce, for any distance not exceeding hive
hundred miles, one cent; and for each additional
ounce, or fraction of an ounce, one cent; for any
distance exceeding five hundred miles and not ex-
ceeding thousand five hundred miles, double
those rates for any distance exceeding one thou
sand five hundred miles and not exceeding two
thousand five hundred miles, treble those rates; for
any distance exceeding two thousand hve hundred
miles and not exceeding three thousand five hum
dred miles, four times those ratee; for any distance
exceeding three thousand five hundred miles, five
thOae rates Subscribers TO all periodicals
shall be required to pay one quarters postage in
advance in all such cases the postage shall be one
half the foregoing rates. Bound books, and par
GELS of printed matter not weighing over thirty
two ounces, shall be deemed mailable matter I'M
der the provisions of this section And the postage
all printed matter other than newspapers and
periodicals published at intervals, not exceeding
three months, and sent from the Office of publica-
ton to actual and bona fide subscribers to be pre-
paid and in ascertaining the weight Of newspa-
pers for the purpose Of determining the amount of
postage chargeable thereon, they shall be weighed
when in a dry state. And whenever any printed
matter on which the postage is required by this
section to be prepaid SHALL through the inattention
OF postmasters, or otherwise be sent without pro-
payment, the same shall be charged with double
the amount Of postage which would have been
chnrgeable thereon If the postage had been pre-
paid but nothing in this act con tanned shall subject
to postage any matter which is exempted from
the payment of postage by any existing law. And
the Postmaster General, by and with the advice
and consent of the President Of the United States,
shall be and he is hereby authorized to reduce
enlarge, from time to time, the rates Of postage
upon all letters and other mailable matter con-
veyed between the United States and any foreign
country, for the purpose of making better postal
arrangements with other governments, or counter
acting any adverse measures affecting our postal
intercourse with foreign countries; and posmasters
at the office OF delivery are hereby authorized, and
1t ahal be their duty, to remove wrappers and en-
velopes from all printed matter and pamphlets not
charged with letter postage, for the purpose of as
certaining whether there is upon connected with
any ouch printed matter or in such package any
matter or thing which would authorize require
the charge of higher rate of postage thereon.
And all publishers OF pamphlets, periodicals, maya
zines, and newspapers which shall not exceed six
teen ounces in weight, shall be allowed to inter-
change their publications reciprocally free of post
age: Provided. That such interchange shall be
confined to a single copy of each publication Ind
provided, also, That said publishers may encosc
in their publications the bills for subscriptions
thereto without any additional charge for postage:
Ind provided, further, That in all cases where
newspapers shall not contain over three hundred
square inches they may be transmitted through
the mails by the publishers to bona fdc subscribers
at one fourth the rates fixed by this act.
SEC. 8. And be further enacted, That it shall be
the duty OF the Postmaster General to provide and
furnish to all deputy postmasters, and TO all other
persons applying and paying therefor, suitable
postage stamps Of the denomination Of three cents
and Of such other denominations as he may think
expedient to facilitate the prepayment of the post
ages provided for in this act; and any person who
shall forge counterfeit any postage stamp pro-
vded or furnished under the provisions of this or
any former act, whether the same impressed or
printed on or attached to envelopes or not, any
die, plate, or engraving therefor, shall make
print or knowingly use or sell or have in his pos
session with intent to use sell, any such false,
forged, or counterfeited die, plate, engraving, or
postage stamp, or who shall make or print,
thorize procure to be made printed, any post
age stamps of the kind provided and furnished by
the Postmaster General Aforesaid, without the
especial authority and direction OF the Post Office
Department, who, after such postage stamps
have been printed SHALL with intent to defraud the
revenues of the Post Office Department, deliver
any postage stamps to any person or persons other
than such as shall be authorized to receive the
by an instrument Of writing duly exc
cuted under the hand of the Postmaster General,
and the seal Of the Post Office Department, shall,
on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of felony,
and be punished by fine not exceeding five hun
dred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding
hive years, or by both such fine and imprisonment;
and the expenses OF procuring and providing all
such postage stamps and letter envelopes,
provided for or authorized by this act shall be paid
after being adjusted by the auditor of the Post