The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-31
New Postage Law.

AN ACT further t9 amend the Act entitled " An Act
70 reduce and modify the rates Of postage in the
uhitea states, and for other purposes,'' passed
March 3, 1856. f
Be 4 enacted BY the Senate and House of Reprt.
s~entatipes Of tie United ef .America in Conr,sss -
seMoled, That in lieu Of the rates of postage now as.
ing rates, to wit
For every single letter, in manuscript, or paper Of
any klnd IN which information shall BE- asked for or
communicated IN writing, or by marks or signs. CON
veyed IN the mail for any distance between places in
the United States not exceeding three Thousand milas
three cents and for any distance exceeding three
thousand miles, ten cents. .~1-, A
And for a double letter there shall be ebarcoa 40,
pie the rate above specified and for a trcble LETTER
ueole those rates; and for a quadruple letter, quad.
ruPie those rates and every letter or parcel moi az.
ceeuihs nan an ounce in weight shall be deemed a
stngIe ana every additional weight of half an ounce,
shail be charged with an additional single postase /.
ana upon al letters passing through or il the maflvf
she ohited states, excepting such as are to or from A
iorelen country, the hostages as above specified shall
se prepaid, except upon letters and packages adj
ness, which shall be so marked on tile enyelone. And
from and after the first day of january eiphteen bun'
dred and ffty,six, the Postmaster General NAV re.
lnire postmasters. to place postage stamps upon ali,
been placed by the writers. ~
anu aii drolrietters, or letters placed in any most.
omce not Tor transmission through the mail. but for
delivery only, shall be charged with postage Mt the
fate OF one cent each and all letters which Shall here.
after be advertised as remaining over, or uncalled for
IN any postoiice shall be charged with one cent each
IN aadi,lon to the regular postage, both to be &C.
counted for as other hostages now are
SEC. z. And be it further enacted, That it shall,
nc, De lawful for any postmaster or other person to
sen any postage stamp or stamped enyelope for anv
larger sum than that indicated upon the face of sucb
postage stamp or for a larger sum than that charged
uasie,or ~ me Postotice Department and any
person who shall violate this provision shall be deemed
suiiy Oh a misdelneanor, and on conviction thereof
siai ee rhed IN any sum not less than ten. nor more
thah hpe hundred dollars. This act to take effect and
oe IN iorce from and after the commencement or tbe
neAt llscal quarter after its passage, Prop;dea That
u thn hefelncontained shall be construed as to alter
'hs avs IN relation to the franking privilege.
SEC. .. And be it further enacted. That for the
gfeatef security of valuable letters posted for trans.
MISSION IN the mails of the United States. the pnst.
MASTER Heiieral be and hereby is authorized Ia estaL-
tsh q uniform plan for the registration of such ,et.
tess on application of parties posting the same ana
W y teaare she payment of the postage, as wen as a
reslstiatlon fee of five cents on every such letter ar |
packet 70 be accounted for by postmAsters receiv;nr
tne same IN such manner us the Postmaster Sena,al
may nfeet P'oeided, hoeoere,', That such repistn1.
shaiI not be compulsory and it shall not render
we fostoi1ce department or its revenue l;sble far
the ioss OF such letters or packets or the contents
~ Approved March Sd. +,