The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-23
FOREIGN MAILS.


FOREIGN MAILS.
TN OBEDIENCE to the act of Congress, approx
l. ed August 80, 1852, which is in the words follow
| ing, to wit: 81.
Gan act to provide for a tri-monthy nail from
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampco, and
back, in steam vessels
| "Be ii enacted By the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiues Of the United States Of america in Con-
| eress assembled That the Postmaster General be
into a contract for term Of five years. and for a
| cum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
| 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
Tampco, 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 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, un
til O'Clock p. m of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy next, (to be decided by the 9th of the same
month"; for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
ruary, 1853, in the manner and time herein spe-
Gifted:
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico, (Mexi.
co., to Vera Cruz, about 900 miles. and back, three
times month, in steamships. Time allowed
(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.
supply, trimonthly, by side vessel, in due con
nexon, will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be impractcable 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 and safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vessels to San Francisco and back
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days,) and uice uevsa, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
Proposals 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
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 Semi monthly trips Of the mail steamships
of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco.
Proposal 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 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 auho-
rty to execute in the terms OF the contract the
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 nd
Acapulco, the proposals should set forth descriP-
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 is or is not convertible into a ship of war.
And special notice is hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provisions 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 stipulatc to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying said mails to the United States, 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
two by the President of the United States, and two
by the owner or owners, with umpire, in case
of disagreement, to be appointed by the President
of the United States.
The laws on this subject are the 7th section Of
the act of March 3, IS45, and The third section Of
the act of June 81, ls4s, to which bidders are re-
ferred
The bidder may embrace in his offer stpua-
ton to carry agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, or he may omit it, at his dis
cretien Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given favor of bid equal in other respects
over bid not containing it.
BY the second section Of the act OF March 3, 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
citizens.
Articles of contract to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his suretes, by or before
the fifteenth day of February, 1853. The contract
is to provide, among other things, that the pay of
the trip ia to beforfeited when the trip lie not per-
formed, and not more than three times the pay of
the trip when the trip is not run, and no sufficient
excuse for the failure is furnished, and due pro-
portion Of it when grade of service is rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sa actorily 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; for
conveying it in place or manner that exposes 1t
to depreciation, loss, or injury for refusing, after
demand made, to convey a mail by any additional
steamship, vessel or vehicle by the contractor
on the route, and above the specified number
Of trips in the contract, and TOR not arriving at the
time set; also, for transmitting intelligence, or
furnishing the means Of transmitting intelligence,
in advance of the mail. The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post office lave; for disobeying the
instructions OF the Department; for refusing to
discharge a carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning the contract without the con.
sent of the Postmaster General, for setting up
running an 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 required;
but the contractor may, in such case, reliDquish
the contract, timely notice, if he prefer it 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
Jcr's name and residence, and the name OF each
member of the firm, where company offers, should
he diatinctlv atated i'm the proDOaala