The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-16
FOREIGN MAILS.

| 'sAn act to provide for tri- monthly mail from
! New Orleans 10 Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
| back. in steam vessels. -
| "Be IL enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatires of the United States of america in Con
| srsss assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and be 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 may offer
sufficient and satisfactory security, after due pub.
nc 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 vesse Ia
of not lees 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"-
... .." ..'2" PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city Of Washin gton, 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
month y for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
cited: -, 1870 '''~' '''' '''''' "'' q" 'p''
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico. (Mexi
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 lne and
supply, tri.monthly, 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 g.
Proposals will also be considered for the extern.
| sion Of two of the above tiips from Vera Cruz to
Acapulco, by suitable and safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vesses to San Francisco and back c
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
| not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, five
days,) and uice uersa, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days. ..
N - =
| 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
Proposals 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, 30 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-
| rateIy.
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 il one year longer at same
terms. a..
In regard to hat part of the service bet ween
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re.
CURED 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
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 Fra ncisco 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 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
! spects) will be preferred which shall stpuate to
deliver the steamship ships, to be provided 70 r
carrying said mails to the United States their
proper officer on demand made, for tho purpose of
being converted into weasel 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 appraisers, appointed
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 the 7th section of
D, section
the act OF June 81, lS4S to which bidders are re-
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 il, at his die
cretien: Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
over bid hot containing it.
BY the second section OF the act Of March 3, 1916
1t ls 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 bv the
accepted bidder and by his suretics by or before
the fifteenth day of February, 1858. The contract
ia to provide among other things, that the pay of
the trip ia 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 no. run, and no sufficient
excuse for the failure ia furnished, and due pro-
portion of 1t when a grade of service is rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati factorily explained in due time; for falling to
take from. or to deliver into the poet office at the
port OF landing the mail beon gipg thereto, or any
part of said mail; for suffering the mail, or any
part Of it, to be wet, injured lost,o desreycd for
conveying 1t in place or manner that exposes il
to depreciation, oss, or injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey "A mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, or vehicle run by the contractor
on the route, over and above the specified number
OF trips in the contract, and Tor arriving at the
time set also, for transmitting int,liuence or
furnishing the means OF transmitting iutelli gence
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 10
discharge a carrier when required by toe Depart
ment; tor assigning the contract without the con
sent Of the Postmaster General, for setting I'D or
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 rrquirod
but the contractor may, in such case, rclinquish
the contract, timely notice, If he prefer it 70 tho
change. The Postmaster General may also dis.
continue or curtsil the eervicc, he allowing one
with.
TIE route, the service, the yearly pay, the lid
der's namo and residence, and the name of ear h
member OF the firm, where a company offers should
he distinctly stated in the proposals.