The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-16


ing, to wit: r#I6a na. rt- ..arftsisg ,IEu A.,
"An act to provide for q trimonthy mail fr IN
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampco, aud
back, in steam vessels
."Be il enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
Sentative, Of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he s hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term OF live years, and for q
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 a month from New Orleans, vim
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vessels
Of not lees than eight hundred tone 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"-- . ...,. q a...
.u.. ... >'r' PROPOSALS ',....
Will be received at the Contract Oace Of the Post
Office Department, in the cityof Washington, un-
Ill O'Clock p. m. Of Monday the 81 day of Janu-
airy next, TO be decided by tho 9th Of the same
five ns the 81 he Of e
cined: NV -
From New Orleans, {La.,) by Tampico. (Mexi.
COY 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
nexion, will be considered in the event OF its being
shown TO he impracticable TO enter that port with
the steamships of tho line
Proposals will also be considered for the extern
sion Of two of the above tips from Vera Cruz TO
Acapulco, by suitable and safe land conve yance,
thence by steam vessels to San Fra ncisco and backs
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, five
da ys.) and picr ce,sa. and between Acapulco and
San Francieco not TO exceed eight days.
Proposals are also invited for scmi monthly trips,
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven-
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico. Vera
Cruz, and ACT puco, 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
Francisco. .-
Proposal, will also be considered for four trips
month from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Crus, and the city OF Mexico, to Acapulco and
back and for the extension of two VI those trips
| to San Francisco by steamships the other two 10
be run in connexon 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 he bid for sePa-
| rately.
Under the act Of March 8, 1851, the service be.
tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz is to be for
| four yenrs. But the Postmaster General reserves
the right Of continuing ii one year longer at same
terms.
| In regard to hat part Of the service between
| Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
| quired to safety the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
rity to 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,
| IN boil rprtN Tho To and
1 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 10 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, l845, those proposals for the last described
section Of the route (being acceptable in other re-
| spects) will be preferred which shall stipulatc to
deliver the steamship ships, to be provided for
carrying sad malls to the United States, or To their
proper officer, on demand made, for the purpose OF
being converted into a vessel or vessels OF war; the
United Statcs 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 Sta ties, and two
by the owner or owners, with an umpire, incasc
Of disagreement, to be appointed by the President
of the United States. ..s, ..'
| The laws on this subject the 7th section Of
the net of March 3, 1Si5, and the third section Of
the act Of June 81 ls4s, to which bidd,rs are re-
| ferred. F'.s a' '.f ."-
The bidder may embrace in bis offer stipuia.
! ton to carry agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mais, or he may omit II, at HE dis
erection. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
| over q bid not containing it. F. - .lE
By the second section Of the act of March g. 1916,
il is required that contracts for the conveyance OF
| the mali from the United States TO foreign ports
| shall be made with American citizens, and the
mail transported in American vessels by American
| citizens. '"'.e
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
| the fifteenth day Of February, 1858. The contract
Is to provide among other things, that the pay OF
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip lie not per.
! formed, and not more than three times the pay Of
the trip when the trip IL not and no eufcient
for the failure ia Furnished, and duo pro-
portion Of it when grade Of service is rendered
inferior that specified in tho contract; and that
| fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati factoriy explained In due time; for failing to
take from. to deliver into, the poet Office at the
port OF landing the mail belonging thereto, or any
part Of said mail; for suffering the mail, or any
part Of to be wet, injured lost. dcstroyed Tor
conveying IL in place or manner that exposes 1t
to depreciation, loss, or injury for refusing, after
steamship. vessel vehicle run by the contractor
| on the route, over and above the specified number
trips in the contract, and tor not arriving at the
time Get; also, for transmitting intelligence, or
| furnishing the means of transmitting intelligence,
! in advance Of the mail. The Postmaster General
may annu the contract for repeated failures; FOR
violating the poet Office lave; for disobeying the
instructions OF the Department; for refusing 10
discharge carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning the contract Without the con
cent of the Postmaster General or for setting up or
running an express az aforesaid.
I The Postmaster General may alter The contract,
and alter the schedule, ne allowing pro rata IN
crease of compensation, within the restrictions
imposed by law for any increased service requi'ed;
bur the contractor may, in such case, relinquish
the contract, timely notice II he prefer tito the
change. The Postmaster General may also dis
continue or curtnil the service, he allowing one
with.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
der's name and residence, and the name ct each
member Of the firm, where company offers, shonld
edistinctly stated in the proposals.