The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-07

Ton thereof, II the value OF such property shall
felony, and shall be imprisoned for a period not
exceeding THREE years; or if the value of such
property shall be less than twenty five dollars,
shall be Imprisoned not more than one year. or be
fined not less than ten dollars more than two
hundred dollars for every such offence
SEC. s. And be it, further enacted, That no collect
or other officer Of the customs shall permit any
ship or vessel, arriving within any port cOlec-
ton district of the United States to make entry or
break bulk until oil letters board the same shall
be delivered into the post office at or nearest said
port or place, nor until the captain or commander
Of such ship or vessel shall have signed and sworn
to declaration before such collector or officer OF
the CUSTOMS In the form and to the effect following,
that lie to say: sra.ffa tflsg.t -.srs
81, A. H., commander of the Estate the name of
the ship or yesse arriving from (state the place.,
and now lying in the port Of Estate the name the
port,) do, as required by law, solemnly swear Cor
affirm, the may beg that have, to the best
ofmy knowledge or belief, delivered caused to
be delivered into the post Office at or nearest said
port, every letter and every bag, parcel, or pack
age OF letters that were ON board the Estate the
of ship or vesse during her last voyage. and that
have so delivered or cause[dl to be delivered all
such letters, bags, parcels, and packages as were
in my possession or under my power or CONTROL"
And the collector and every officer of the Gus
toms at every port, without special instructions,
and every special agent OF the Post Office Depart
ment, when instructed by the Postmaster General
to make examinations and seizures, shall carefully
search every vessel for letters. which may be on
board, or have been carried or transported con-
trary to law; and each and every of such officers
and his deputies, shall at all times have power
to seize all letters, and packages, and parcels
containing letters which shall have been sent or
conveyed contrary to law on board any ship or
vessel, or on or over any post route of the United
States, and to convey such letters to the nearest
post office; or may, if the Postmaster General and
the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, de.
tain the said letters or any part thereof, until two
months after the trial and final determination of
all suits and proceedings which may at any time,
within six months after such seizure, be brought
against any person for sending, or carrying, or
transporting any such letters contrary to any pro-
visions Of any act OF Congress; and half Of any
penalties that may be recovered for the illegal
sending, carrying, or transportation of any such
letters shall be paid to the officer 80 seizing and
the other half to the use Of the Post Office Depart
which any letter shall Be concealed, shall be for
feitcd to the United States, and the proceed
ings may be had to enforce such forfeiture as are
authorized in respect to good[sl, wares, and mer-
chandse forfeited by reason of any violation Of the
revenue laws OF the United States; and all laws for
the benefit and protection of officers of the customs
Selling goods, wares, or merchandise, for viola
ton of any revenue law Of the United States, shall
apply to the officers and agents making seizures
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted That the
Postmaster General may from time to time, by
and with the advice end consent Of the President,
arrangements
just and expedient for allowing the mails of Cana
da, or of any other province, State, or country ad
joining the United States. to be carried or tran
sportod at the expense of the province, State, or
country to which such mails belong, over any part
or portion of the territory of the United States,
from one point in the province, State, or coun.
try to which such mails belong, to any other
point in the same, upon obtaining the same priv
leges for the transportation of the mails of the
United States through the province, State or coun-
try to which such privilege shall be granted: Pro-
vided, That such privileges may at any time be an
nulled by the President of the United Sta:es, or
from and after the expiration of one month next
succeeding the day on which the notice Of the act
of the President of the joint resolution Of the
two Houses shall be given to the chief executive
officer, or head of the Post Office Department, of
the province, State, or cocnry whose privilege is
to be thereby anuulled.
$50. I. 1nd be Il further enacted, That every
mai! OF any province, State or country having the
next preceding section, shall, while in the terri
tories of the United States. be deemed and taken
to be mail of the United States, far as to make
any violation thereof, or any depreciation thereon,
or any act or offence in respect thereto or any part
thereof, which would be punishable under the
existing laws of the United States, in case the
same had been mail part of mail OF the
United Statea, an offence of the same grade and
punishable in the same manner and to the same ex-
tent though the said mails we're those of the United
States; and in any indictment for for such act or
offence, the said mails or any part thereof may be
alleged to be- and on the trial Of any such indict.
ment they shall be deemed and held to be mails or
parts of mails of the United States.
SEC. 8. And be It further enacted, That the Post
master General shall be, and he is hereby, autho
rized to provide and furnish to all postmasters and
other persons applying and paying therefor suita-
bic letter envelopes, with such water marks or
other guards against counterfeits as he may deem
expedent, and with one more suitable postage
STAN, Q, with such device and of such denomina-
nd val no direc cd i'm
pressed thereon; which envelopes shall be sold ut
the cost of procuring and furnishing the same. "a
near as may be. with the addition of the value or
denomination of the postage stamps 30 printed or
impressed thereon or attached thereto as aoresaid
and letters when enclosed in such envelopes, with
postage stamps printed or impressed thereon, (the
postage stamps or stamps In every such case being
of the value, denomination amount required to
prepay the postage which would be chargeable on
such letters and envelopes, if sent by mail to the
place Of their destination, under the provisions OF
the laws then in force, and such stamps and
envelopes not having been used before.) shall
pass in the mails as prepaid letters; and all
letters enclosed in such envelopes shall be
provided and furnished by the Postmaster General,
as first in this section prescribed and with postage
stamps thereon aforesaid. (and such postage
stamps on such envelopes being equal in value and
amount to the ratcsof postage to which such letters
would be liable, il sent by mail, and such postage
stamPs and envelopes not having been before uscd)
may be sent, convc yed, and delivered otherwise
than by post or mail. Notwithstanding any prohi-
bition thereof under any existing law: PROVIDED,
That said envelope shall be duly sealed, or other
wise firmly and securely closed, go that such letter
cannot be taken therefrom without tearing or de-
stroying such envelope. and the same duly direct
ed md addressed; and the date of such letter, or
of the receipt transmission thereof to be written
or stamped. or otherwise appear on such envelope.
SEC. 9. And be Hfurfher enacted, That the Audi
tor Of the Treasury for the Poet Office Department
may, under such regulations and restrictons as
the Postmaster General shall prescribe, allow to
every postmaster whose Office was not established
until after the first day Of July one houeand eight
hundred end fifty, or whose commissions, in
consequence of the increase of labor and business
at his office, shall have equalled or exceeded
the commissions allowed Mt such office for the
year ending the thirteth day Of June, one thou
sand eight hundred and fifty one, such compensa-
ton in addition to his legal commissions will, in
the judgment of such Auditor. make the compen-
sation Of such post mastcr equal, near may be-
to the compensation OF other postmnstcrs in the
same section of the country whose labors are the
same ss his, and who are entitled to additional
allowance under the sixth section OF the act enti-
tied can act to reduce and modify the ratcs of
postage in tho United States, and for other pur-
poses," approved March third, eighteen hundred
and fifty one, and under orders Of the Postmas-