The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-17
FOREIGN MAILS.

| can act to provide for q tri-monthIy mail FRI m
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, in steam vessels. .. j, fsgrsE . l.ts. ...
'sBe enacted by Tie Senate and House Of Repre-
ssntdtires of the United States Of America in Con-
| gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
| and he 10 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
best form Of construction adapted TO the navigation
OF the southern waters the same to be ready in the
| shortest possible time"- ~ - i".' %" .
| .."sat 5i.e% PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washington, un
airy next, 10 be decided by the 9th Of the came
monthly for conveying the mails of the United
States, for. five years from the fifteenth Of Feb
rnary, 1853, in the manner and time herein spe-
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, tri-monthly, by side vessel, in due con.
ncxon, will be considered in the event of it's being
shown to be impracticabe to enter that port with
the steamships of tho 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 Fra ncisco and back
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days,) and pics persa, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not TO exceed eight days.
Proposals are aIsoinvited 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. 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 mimonthly trips of the mail steamships
Francisco. 20. a.'.' a'. 30" 10. b., "'
Proposals will also be considered for four trips q
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 10
be run in connection with the present Pacific mail
line, AZ to give to California weekly mail The
| time bet~ cen 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-
rateiy. .f..fg0 ~ ~ 80. 1a,. r.. n ''
! 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. ',':v F.r ... Z ...,-. ". . .. '."
| In regard to. hat part of the service between
| Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be
quired 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, aud
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 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 ID or is not convertible into 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 described
section Of the route (being acceptable other re-
sprcts) will be preferred which shall siPulatc to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying said mails 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 ascertaned by four appraisers. appointed,
two by the President of the United States, and two
~ the owner or owners, with an u umpire; IN case
of the United States. '... ID
The laws on this subject the 7th section of
the act of March 3, ls45, and the third section of
the act of June q, ls4S, to which bidders are re-
! ferred. ,,e,.. ......
! The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula'
ton 70 carry an agent Of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, Or he may omit 1t, at his dis.
| erection. Such stipulation may induce preference
10 be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
| over bid not containing it. t. .
BY the second section Of the act Of March 3, 1915,
It lie required that contracts for the conveyance Of
the mail from the United States to foreign ports
| shall he made with American citizens, and the
mail transported in American vessels by American
| citizens. 49, .. .....
accepted bidder and by bis 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 10 not per.
| formed, and not more than three times the pay OF
the trip when the trip IL not and no sufficient
excuse for the failure is furnished, and due pro-
| portion of itwben grade of service 10 rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract; and that
| fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati fctory explained in due time; for failing to
take from. to deliver into, the post office Mt 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, or destroyed Tor
conveying 1t in place or manner that exposes II
to depreciation ioss, or injury; for refusing after
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 Mt 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; Tor
violating the post office lave; for disobeying the
instructions oil the Department; for refusing to
discharg c a carrier when required by the Depart
| ment; TOR assigning the contract without the con.
sent Of the Postmaster General, for setting up or
| running an express as aforesaid. .-.s.g4f.-s. ~.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract
and alter the scheduie, 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, relnquisf
the contract timely notice, IL he prefer IT to The
change. The Postmaster General may also dis
continue or curtail the service, he allowing ont
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with. f3,g .ff,E' ..rs.l ~ .,.l.1 y1eua-..4 .sJ.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
der's name and residence, and the name Of eacl
member Of the firm, where company offers, shoul'
. distioctly stated In the proposals. '.' ,.''