The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-04
FOREIGN MAILS.


ing, to wit:
/" An act to provide for tri- monthly mail frcm
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, in steam vessels. . ~. . .-...
'sBs ii enacted by The Senate and House Of Repre-
senafipes Of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into q contract for term of five years, and for
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
year, with such person or persons may offer
sufficient and satisfactory security, after due pub
lie notice, for the transportation Of the mails Of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
States, three times q month from New Orleans, via
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vessels
of not less than eight hundred tons burden, of the
best form of construction adapted to the navigation
of the southern waters, the same to be ready in the
shortest possible time'-
PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washington, I'M
til 3 O'Clock p. M of Monday, the Sd day of Janu
ary-next, Ito be decided by the 9th of the came
month'I for conveying the mails OF the United S
Gifted: ~ " ~ $3.50
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico, .(Mexi
COZ to Vera Cruz about 900 miles. and back, three
times a month, in steamships. Time allowed
from port to port to be three days; the schedule
(subject to approval of the Postmaster GENERALLY
| to be proposed by the bidder.
Proposals to carry in four days, each way, will
also be considered.
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and
supply, trimonthly, by side vessel, in due con
nexon will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be impractcnble to enter that port with
the steamships of the line .,
Proposals will also be considered for the exten.
sion Of two of the above trips from Vera Cruz to
Acapulco, by suitable aud safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vessels to San Francisco and backo
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days) and uice uersa, and between Acapulco and
Co., N%fso mt to doirrI 1opo
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly trips,
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz, and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back in
trips from New Orleans via Tampco and Vera
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed
| ing eight days each way, and in due connection
With the semi monthly trips of the mail steamships
| of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco. ., ....
Proposals will also be considered for four trips
| month from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
| Cruz, and the city Of Mexico, to Acapulco and
back; and for the extension of two of those trips
| to San Francisco by steamships; the other two to
be run in connexion with the present Pacific mail
| line, 80 to give to California weekly mail The
| time between New Orleans and San Francisco not
| to exceed seventeen days. In every instance each
of the three sections of the line between New Or
leans and San Francisco should be bid for sepa-
| rately.
| Under the act of March 3, 1851 the service be.
tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz is to be for
| four years. But the Postmaster General reserves
the right of continuing it one year longer at same
! terms.
| In regard tot hat part of the service between
| Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
| qured to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho-
vice herein called for without interference, and in
| accordance with treaty stipulations.
In regard to the steamship part of the service on
the route between New Orleans and Vera Cruz,
the proposals should set forth the size, rate, and
description of the vessel. (Which must be of not
less than eight hundred tons burden,) and in re-.
| gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals. should set forth descrp-
ton of the vessel with sufficient particularly to
enable tho decision to be made the advice OF the
4 proper officers Of the naval service, whether the
same is or is not convertible into chip of war.
And special notice ia hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provi ons Of the act Of Congress- OF Sd
March, lS45, those proposals for the last. described
section of the route being acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stipulate to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided 10
proper officer, demand made, for the purpose OF
being converted into vessel or vessels of war; the
United States being bound, on their part, to pay
the fair full value thereof at the time of delivery
to be ascertained by four appraisers, appointed
two by the President of the United States, and two
by the owner or owners, with an umpire, IN case
Of disagreement, to be appointed by the President
of the United States. ... ....
the act Of March 3, lS45, and the third section o.
the act of June 81, lS4s, to which bidders are re-
ferred. .... ... .s
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, or be may omit it, at hi5 dis
erection. Such stipulation may induce preference
be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
| over bid not con tanning 1t.
By the second section of the act of March 3, lSl5
it is required that contracts for the conveyance
the mail from the United States to foreign port
shall be made with American citizens, and tn
mail transported in American vessels by American
citizens. ..
Articles of contract are to be executed by thu
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
lie to provide, among other things, that the pay o
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip is not per
, formed, and not more than three times the pay o
the trip when the trip is not run, and no sufhcien
excuse for the failure is fur nished, and due pro
portion of it when a grade Of service is renderct
inferior to that specified in the contract; and tina
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency b.
sat factorily explained in due time; for failing t.
take FROM or to deliver into, the post Office at thu
port OF landing the mail belonging thereto, or am
part of said mail; for suffering the mail or am
part it, to be wet injured, lost or destroyed TO-
E conveying it in place or manner that exposes
to depreciation, loss, injury; for refusing, ate
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, or vehicle run by the contracto
on the route, over and above the specihed nnmoe
trips in the contract, and tor not arriving at thu
time set; also, for transmitting intelligence, o
0 furnishing the of transmitting intelligence
in advance of the mail The Postmaster Genera
a may annul the contract for repeated failures; 10
Q violating the post office laws; for disobeying tn
' instru tons OF the Department; for refusing 4
discharge n carrier when required by the Depart
ment for assigning the contract without the con
sent of the Postmaster General, or Tor setting up
Q running an express aforesaid. .... .
Q The Postmaster General may alter the contract
|, and alter the schedule, he allowing pro rata in
8 crease Of compensation, within the restriction
imposed by law for any increased service required
4 but the contractor may, in such case, relinquis
the contract timely notice, if he prefer 1t to tn
r change. The Postmaster General may also dis
J. continue or curtail the service, he allowing on
{ months extra pay on the amount dispense
/, with. >.'
d The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
o der's name and residence, and the name OF eac
member of the firm, where company offers, shoul
be distinctly stated in the proposals.