The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-14
FOREIGN MAILS.

New Orleans TO Vera Cruz via Tampico. and
| back, in steam vessels -.
"Bs il enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentafives of the United States of AmericG in Con.
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term of five years, and for a
| sum 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
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 Mt the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city Of Washington, I'M
til O'Clock p. m. of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy next, Ito be decided by the 9Th of the same
| monthly for conveying the mails of the United
States, for hive years from the fifteenth of Feb.
ciaed:' ' - '' saw ''' ''' %" 'p'
From New Orlenns, (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, ri-monthly, by side vessel, in due con.
nexion, will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be impracticable 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,
| The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
| not to exceed one hundred twenty hours Give
days) and uice uersa, and between Acapulco aud
San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
Proposals also invited for semi monthly trips,
IN ho W 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
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed
| ing eight days each way, and in due connexion
with the semi monthy trips Of the mail stea mshps
OF the present line between Acapulco and San
| Francisco.
Proposals will also be considered for four trips
| month from New Orleans, via Tampco, Vera
Cruz, and the city Of Mexico, to Acapulco and
back and for the extension of two Of thoae trips
to San Francisco by steamships; the other two to
| be run in connection with the present Pacific mail
line, go 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 scpa-
| ratey.
| 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
quired to satisfy the Department before enterin
| into contract that he has full privilege and autho
riy to execute in the terms OF the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty etipulations
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
lcaaf han cir hind hnr \ md in
| gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals should set forth descrip
ion 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, tothe provisions of the act of Congress of Sd
March, lS45, those proposals for the last. described
| section of the route (being acceptable in other
spects) will be preferred which shall stipulate to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying sad mails to the United States, their
proper officer, demand made, for the purpose of
being converted into vessel vessels of war; the
United States being bound, on their part, tn 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, 1885, and the third section Of
the act Of June 81, lS4S, to which bidders
| ferred
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula
ton to carry an agent OF the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, Or he may omit it, at his dis
| erection. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
| over q bid not containing it,
BY the second section Of the act of March g. lS45,
1t ia 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 are to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
the fifteenth day Of February, 1858. The contract
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip is not per-
formed, and not more than three times the pay Of
the trip when the trip is not rum and 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
sat factorily explained in due time; for failing TO
take FROM or to deliver into the post Office at the
port OF la nding the mail belonging thereto, or any
part Of said mail; for suffering the mail, any
part Of it, to be wet injured lost destroyed; for
conveying ii in place or manner that exposes it
to depreciation, loss, or 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
at trips In the contract, and Tor not arriving at the
| time set; aso, for transmitting intelligence,
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 Laws; for dsobcying the
| instructions OF the Department; for refusing TO
discharge II carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning the contract without the con
cent 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 required;
but the contractor may, in such case, relinquish
tho contract, timely notice. il he prefer it to the
change. The Postmaster General may also dis
continue curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with. ..-
The ronte, the service, the yearly pay, the lid
der's name and residence, and the name OF each
member OF the firm, where company offers, should
edistincty stated in the proposals,