Squatter sovereign., 1855-08-14
For eompsnaation Of George h. aiadings, FOR


to San Antonio, Texas, monthly, each way, ac-
cording to the contract under which said ser
vice is now being performed, the sum or tnlrty-
three thousand five hundred dollars per annum,
commencing with the eighteenth day-of August,
eighteen hundred and fIfty-four, and continuing
one year and in lieu of the compensation there
in stipulated: Provided, That the Postma ster-
General, with the assent of the contractors, be,
and he ia hereby, authorised to annul said con-
tract. And that each contractor engaged, or to
be engaged in carrying mails through any of
the Territories west of the Mississippi, shall
have the privilege OF occupying stations at the
rate of not more than one for every twenty
miles of fhe route on which he carries mail, !,
and shall have a pre-empGiye right therein,
when the same shall be brought into market, to
the extent OF six hundred and forty acres to be
taken CONTINUOUSLY, and to include his improve
ments; but no such pre-emptive right shall .ex-
tend to any pass in a mountain or other deflle.
SEC. Q. And be it further enacted, That the
fourth section of the act of Congress, approved
fifth August. eighteen hundred and fifty-four,
entitled ssAn act making appropriations for the
ssrvice of the Post-Oiice Department, during
the fiscal wear ending the thirtieth of June, one
thousand eishthundred and ffty-five," be, and
the sane is hereby, continued for one year from
August fifth, eighteen hundred and flfty-hve.
and that the allowance granted by said section
to the deputy postmaster at Washington City,
District OF Columbia, of one mill per pound
upon the aggregate weight of public documents
printed by order of Congress, and deposited In
the Office of the said postmaster to be mailed,
snail be construed as to commence on the fifth
OF August, eighteen hundred and fifty three.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the
Post Inaster-General be, and he is hereby, au-
thorised to establish and put in operation
semi-monthly mail, by sea, from San Francis
co, in the State of California, TO olympia, In
the Territory of Washington, touching at Hum
boldt Bay, Trinidad, and Crescent City. IN the
State OF California; Port Oxford; Gardiner City
or Umpqua, and Astoria, in the Territory of
oregon; Shoal Water Bay, Port Townsend, IN
the Territory OF Washington; and at such 9TH
er places as shall be designated by the Postmas-
ter-General: Provided, That the contract for
said service be advertised by the Postmaster
General, i'll pursuance of existing laws, and let
to the lowest bidder: And provided further,
That the whole cost of said service shall not
exceed the sum of one hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars per annum: Provided further, That
the whole cost of said service shall not exceed
the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand
dollars per annum: Provided further, That the
Postnaster-General may, il he shall deem 1T for
the public interest, contract for said service
with the lowest bidder as aforesaid, under the
advertised proposals heretofore made for mail
service between the points aforesaid.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the
right to frank letters and documents, now al
lowed by law to the Weep President, be contin-
Ied to those who have heretofore, or shall here
after hold that office, during life
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all
books. maps, charts, or other publications,
tered for copyright, and which under act of Au-
gust tenth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, are
required to be deposited in the Library of Con-
gress, and in the Smithsonian Institution, may
be sent through the mails free of postage. under
such regulations as the Postmaster-generalm may.
prescribe
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the
Pestnaster-General be, and he is hereby, au-
thorised, in the settlement of the accounts of the
late postmaster at Waterville, Maine, to allow
such sum, in addition to the commissions which
accrued at his office during his term of service,
as VIII make his compensation equal to one
hundred and seventy-fve dollars per quarter,
and cover all such necessary items of incident
al expenses as have been usually allowed and
incurred in post-office of this class: Provided.
however, That the whole compensation and ex-
penses shall not exceed four hundred and twen-
ty-five dollars per quarter.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That the
first Comptroller of the Treasury be instructed
to examine the claim of VIM. Glover, and
Thomas w. Mather. and their associates, and
ascertain and allow such damages as they are
entitled to- in justice and equity, in consequence
of the refusal Of the Postmaster General to car
ry into effect the contract entered into between
William r. Glover and Thomas w. Mather,
and the Postmaster General, in eighteen hund-
red and fifty three, for the transportation of the
mails on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and
that such damages be paid to the said William
r. Glover, and Thomas w. Mather, and their
associates, out Of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated: Provided, The sum
allowed shall not exceed the sum of two hund-
red thousand dollars.
SEC. 8. And be iC further enacted, That the
Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, auth
orised to pay to Uriah P. Monroe, his repre-
mail service on the mail route from Shasta to
SACRAMENTO, in the State of California. COM
mencing October first, A. D. eighteen hundred
and ffty-one, and ending July fifteeeuth, eight
cen hundred and fifty-two, the sum of five thou
sand i've hundred and forty-ons dollars and six
ty-six cents.
SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the
proper comptroller of the treasury, under in
structions of Attorney Genei al, inquire wheth-
er the contract made by the Postmaster Gene
raj with William L. Blanchard, for carrying
the United States mail on roate numbered five
thousand and siXty-siX, in the year eighteen
hundred and hfty-three, was violated by the
Postmaster General without legal and adequate
cause given by said Blanchard; and if it was
so violated, then to ascertain and allow such
damages he is entitled to in equity and Justice
by reason of such violation, and that such dam
ages be paid to said Blanchard out OF any mon
ey in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved March 3, 1855.
Public 202.1
AN ACT to establish Columbus, in the State of
Mississippi, Chattanooga, in the State of Ten
nessee, and Hickman, in the State of Ken
tncky, Ports of Delivery
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
presentatives of the United States of America
In Congress assembled, That Columbus, in the
State of Mississippi, and within the collection
district of Mobile, e,-Chattanoga in the State of
Tennessee, and Hickman, in the State of Ken
tuck, and within the collection district of Mis-
sssippi, be, and hereby are declared to be ports
of delivery within their respective collection
districts. And there shall be appointed sur
veyor of customs, to reside at each of said
ports, who shall perform the duties and receive
the compensation ana emoluments prescribed in
the act of Congress, approved March the Sec
ond eighteen hundred and thirty -one, being San
act allowing the duties on foreign merchandise
imported into Pittsburg, Wheeling. Cincinnati,
I1nni svilie ST. Ionis.- Nashville and Nathez 10