The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-20
FOREIGN MAILS.

FOREIGN MAILS.
TN OBEDIENCE to the act of Congress, approx
4 ed August 80, 1852, which ia in the words follow
ing, TO wit:
AN act to provide for financially mail fr5m
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico and
back, in steam vessels.
"Be IL enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentGtires Of the United States Of -4merica in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into a 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
lie notice. for the transpOrtati Of the mails of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
states, three times month from New Orleans, via
Tampco, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vesses
of not less than eight hundred tons burden, of the
beat form OF construction adapted to the navigation
Of the southern waters, the same be ready in the
shortest possible time
PROPOSALS
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
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
cited:
From New Orleans, GA by Tampico, (Mex
co., 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
to be proposed by the bidder.
Proposals to carry in four days, each way, will
ALEC be considered.
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and
supply, tr-monthly, by a side vessel, in due con
nexon will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be mpracticable to enter that port with
the steamships of the 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 Francisco and backs
The time in passing from Vera Cruz TO Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days,) and pice uersa. and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not TO exceed eight days.
Proposals. are also invited 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., as above. Also, for two additional
trips from New Orleans via Tampco 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 ma teamships
Of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco.
PROPOSAL will also be considered for four trips a
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, go as 10 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
ratey.
Under the act of March g. 1851, the service be
tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz ia 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 re.
quircd to satisfy the Department before entering
into that he has full privilege and autho
rty to execute in the terms OF the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stpulatons.
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
dcscri ption 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 Get forth descrip
ton of the vessel with sufficient particularly 10
enable the decision to be made Oh the advice OF the
proper officers Of the naval service, whether the
same is or is not convertible into ship of war.
And special notice is hereby given that, agreea
bly, to the provi ions of the act of Congress of Sd
March, lS45, those proposals for the last described
section Of the route (beipg acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stipuiatc to
deliver the steamship ships, to be provided ior
carrying said mails to the United States Or to their
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 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 agreement, to be appointed by the President
Of the United States.
The laws on this subject the 7th section of
the act of March 3, lS45, and the third section of
the act of June 81, lS4Ss 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 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 bid not containing it.
by the second section of the act Of March g. lsI5,
II Is 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, 1853. The contract
is to provide, among other things, that the pay of
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 and sufficient
excuse for the failure is furnished, and due pro-
portion of it when grade of service Is rendered
ini.ror to that specified in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sa 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, lost, destroyed for
conveying il in q place or manner that exposes IT
to depreciation, loss, or injury for refusing, after
demand made, to convey 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 not arriving the
time set also, 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 lave; for disobeying the
instructions OF the Department; for refusing to
discharge q 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.
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, timely notice, if he prefer it to the
change The Postmaster General may ALEC dis.
continue or curtail the service, be allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
der's name and residence, and the name of each
member Of the firm, where company offers, should
he distinctly stated in the proposals.