The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-19
FOREIGN MAILS.

can act to provide for tri-monthly mail from
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
| bnck, in steam vessels. ... ..... ~ abs.
"Bt il enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
ssnt0fivss Of lhe Uaifsd STATES Of america in Con
| gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and be 10 hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for a term OF five years, and for q
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dolar re
! year, with such person or persons as 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 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 thenavigation
of the southern waters, the same to be ready in the
| shortest possible time"- ...r.r. .... ....a.l
..-. a. OF" PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washington, un.
til o'clock p. m. of Monday. the Sd day Of Janu-
airy next, TO be decided by the 9th Of the came
month"; for conveying the MALE Of the United
| States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
e'ss3 1852 in the manner and time herein 'pe
From New Orleans, (La,) by Tampco, (Mexi.
COY to Vera Cruz about 900 miles, and back. three
times 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, tri-monthly, by side vessel. in due con
nexion, will be considered, in the event of it's being
shown to be impracticable to enter that port with
| the steamships OF the line
Proposals will also be considered for the extern.
sion of two Of the above trips from Vera Cruz TO
Acapulco, by suitable and safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vessels to San Francisco and backe
| The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days,) and pice ue'sa, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not TO exceed eight days.
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly trips,
| a. o in
| teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz, and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back, In
steamships. &C., as above. Also. for two additional
| trips from New Orleans via Tampico and Vera
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed.
| ing eight days each way, and in due connection
with the semimonthly trips of the mail stea mships
Of the. present line between Acapulco and San
Proposals. will also be considered for four trips n
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 connection with the present Pacific mail
| line, as 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 to 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
riy TO execute in the terms OF the contract the ser
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
| lCaa h0n Of OH hundred ny G.
| gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals. should set forth desorP-
ton of the vessel with sufficient particularly to
enable the decision to be made the advice OF the
proper officers Of the naval service, whether the
same 10 or lie not convertible into ship of war.
| And special notice 10 hereby given that, agreea
bly, to the provi ons Of the act of Congress oil Sd
March, 1885, those proposals. for the last described
section OF the route (being acceptable In other re-
specs) will be preferred which shall stipulate to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided 10
carrying said MALE to the United States or to their
proper officer, on 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 npprascrs, 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.
Tho laws on this subject are the 7th section OF
the act of March 3, lsi6 and the third section Of
the act of June 81, l64S to which bidders are re-
ferred. .. ..., ..
The bidder may embrace in bic offer a stipula-
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, Or he may omit it, at his die
| cretion. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
| over a bid not containing it..
By the second section Of the act Of March 8, ls45
it is required that contracts for the conveyance OF
the mail from the United States to foreign ports
| shall be made with American citizens, and the
mail transported in American vessels by American
| citzens.
Articles Of contract are to be executed by the
| accepted bidder and by his sureties by or before
the fifteenth day of February, 1853. The contract
ia to provide among other things, that the pay OF
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip ia not per-
| formed, and not more than three times the pay OF
the trip when the trip is not rum and no sufficient
for the failure lie furnished, and due pro-
\ portion of il when grade Of service is rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract, and that
| fnes may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sat factorily explained in due time; for failing to
take from to deliver into the post Office at the
port OF landing the mail belonging thereto or any
part Of said mail; for suffering the mail, or any
part of it, to be wet, injured lost, destroyed Tor
conveying it in place or manner that exposes 1t
to depreciation, loss, injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, vehicle run by the contractor
on the route, over and above the specified number
Of trips in the contract, and tor not arriving at the
| time set; alec, for transmitting intelligence, or
| in advance of the mail The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post office laws; for disobeying the
| instructions OF the Department.; for refusing TO
discharge n carrier when required by the Depart
| ment; for assigning the contract without the con
sent of the Postmaster General, for setting up
| running express as aforesaid.
| The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
and alter the schedule, he allowing pro rata in.
| crease of compensation, within the restrictions
imposed by law for any increased service rcquired;
but the contractor may, in such case, reliBquish
the contract timely notice, II he prefer II to the
| change The Postmaster General may also dis
| continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with. .. ....
The route, the service the yearly pay, the bid
| der's name and residence, and the name OF each
member of the firm, where company offers, should
| distinctly stated in the proposals.