The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-08
FOREIGN MAILS.

| FOHEIGN MAILS.
TN OBEDIENCE Nc to the act Of Congress APPROX
| Ing, to wit: .r... ~ a.@ B.. p aggs.. e..s.rr.J
CAN act to provide for tri.monthly mail from
| New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, in steam vessels. .,
! "Be ii enacted by the Senate and House of Rspre-
sentatpes 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 a term of five years, and for a
| sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
a year, with such person or persons 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 vesse 10
of not lees than eight hundred TONS burden Of the
best form reconstruction adapted to the navigation
of the southern waters the same to be ready in the
| shortest possible time'-t
| ..s. PROPOSALS ...
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washington I'M
| til O'Clock p IN. OF Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy next, Ito 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
ciaed: ;. 49, - $50 '''''' ''' ''' 'p'
COZ 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
lspbject to approval Of the Postmaster GENERALLY
| 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 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,
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, five
days) and uice uersa and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days. q.
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly trips,
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
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 connexion
With the semi-monthly trips of the mail steamships
| Of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco. " '.s m t..l. ... - :..... 3
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
| leans and San Francisco should be bid for sepa-
! rnteiy. -. -. d .a. o. t.. ~. ....... D..
Under the act of March 3. 1851, the service be.
| tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz 10 to BIO for
| four years. But the Postmaster General reserves
, the right of continuing it one year longer at same
terms. .". .s. .. .. -. ..
In regard to: hat part of the service between
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
quired to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
rity to execute in the terms of the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
| accordance with treaty stipulations.
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 and
Acapulco the proposals. should set forth dcscrip
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 is not convertible into a ship of war.
And special notice lie hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the prov,ions of the act Of Congress of Sd
March, S45, those proposals for the last described
section of the route (beng acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stpuate to
deliver the steamship Ships to be provided for
carrying said mails to the United States 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 appraisers, appointed,
two by the President of the United States, and two
by the owner owners. with an umpire, in
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, l845 and the third section of
the act of June q, lS4S, to which bidders
ferred. tH...... .., ..
The bidder may embrace in his offer a stipula-
ton to carry agent Of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mals, Or he may omit ii, at his dis
cretien. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
over bid not containing it.
BY the second section OF the act OF March 3, 1915,
ia rcd he 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. r..
Articles of contract are TO be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his surcties, by or before
the fifteenth day of February, 1853. The contract
Is to PROVIDE among other things, that the pay OF
the trip Is to he forfeited 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 il when grade Of service 10 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 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, any
part of it, to be wet injured lost, destroyed for
conveying it in a place manner that exposes il
to depreciation. loss, or injury; for refusing after
dema nd made, to convey a mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, vehicle run by the contractor
on the route, and above the specified number
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 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 an express as aforesaid. |.O.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
and alter the schedule, he allowing pro rata in.
crease Of compensation, within the restrictions
impoeed by law for any increased service required;
but the contractor may, in such case, relinquish
the contract, timely notice. If he prefer it to the
change Tho Postmaster General may also die.
continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with. 'H..# ....'." 0....
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
ders name and residence, and the name Of each
member OF the firm, where company ofiers, should
distinctly stated in the proposals.