The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-09
FOREIGN MAILS.

A.CQ
ing, to wit: h
ssAn act to provide for tri-monthly mail from
New Orleans to Vera Cruz yin Tumpfcc. and
back, In steam vessels.
"Bs il enaeied By he Senate and House Of Repre-.
senta.iUes Of the United States Of america in Con-
grass assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into . contract for q term of five years, and for
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
lTampico, TO Vera Cruz and back, in steam yeeoels
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 NJ. .. -
Ne sa PROPOSALS ers r#,. w. ...
Will be received at 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, (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-
cited: l9~s as tEeEst7t aeL 20
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. "&ga 3.
Proposals to carry In four days, each way, will
also be considered, s4 f.,-.s..r ...
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 lihs la ,a5g sssa5
Proposas 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 backs
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, (fve
daysl and Oiee persa, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days. tt
Proposals. also invited for semi monthly trips,
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
teen days, from New Orleans, viz 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
Francisco. y,
Proposal. will also be considered for four trips
month from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz and the city Of Mexico to Acapulco e and
to San Francisco by steamships; the other two to
be run in connection with the present Pacific mail
line, 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. .t..'H T''. -. 1'N
Under the act of March 8, 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. f'''-'
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
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 tone 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 on the advice of the
proper officers of the naval service, whether the
same is or 10 not convertible into ship OF war.
And special notice ia hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the prov ,ons 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 stipulatc to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided ior
proper officer, 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 asccrtained 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 laws on this subject are the 7th section of
the act of March g. lS45, and the third section OF
the act of June q, lS4S, to which bidders are re-
ferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula.
ton to carry agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the male, 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 bid not containing it. L ~. Xxi 49,
By the second section Of the act of March 3, 1915,
II s required that contracts for the conveyance OF
the mail from the United States TO foreign ports
L. 10 Ill orl ttxa
mail transported in American vesscls by American
citizens. .a. L.
Articles of contract are to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
the fifteenth day Of February, 1853 The contract
is to provide, among other things, that the pay OF
the trip s to be forfeited when the trip is not per-
formed, and not more than three timcs the pay Of
the trip when the trip ia not run. and no Sufficient
excuse for the failure ia furnished, and due pro-
portion of il when 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 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, or destroyed; for
conveying it in place or manner that exposes it
to depreciation, loss, injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey a mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, or vehicle by the contractor
on tho route, over 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 oil transmitting intelligence,
in advance of the mail. The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post office laws; for dsobeying the
instructions OF the Department.; for refusing to
ment; for assigning the contract without the con
sent 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
the contract on timely notice, II he prefer il to the
change The Postmaster General may ALEC die.
continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the hid
dcr's name and residence, and the name Of each
member Of the firm where a company offers, should
Q distinctly stated In the proposals. ~ g