Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-28

ored oollars is hereby imposed, to be recover
ed by presentment, by information, or qua tam
and the other half for the use of the Post Office
Department Sec. 4, act Of March 3. Is45.
SOC. l44. be tt further enacted, That the
Postmaster General shall have authority TO
pay or cause to be paid a sum not exceeding
two cents each, for all letters or packets con-
veyed in any vessel or steamboat not en-
ployed in carrying the mail from one post or
place to any other post or place in the United
States, subject to such regulations as the Post
master General may prescribe.* Sec. IL, act
Of March 3, 1847.
*See sections 13S and f39, above, for previous
provision on this subject. =
Sec. las. And be &c further enacted, That
no collector or other officer of the customs
shall permit any ship or vessel arriving with,
In any port or collestion district of the United
States 10 make entry or break bulk* until all
letters on board the same shall be delivered
into the post Office at or nearest said port or
place, nor until the captain or commander of
such ship or vessel shall have signed and sworn
TO declaration before such collector or officer
Of the customs, in the form and to the effect
following, that is to say "I, A B, commander
Of the Estate the name of the ship or vessel,
arriving from [state the place, and now lying
in the port of Estate the name Of the port, do,
as required by law, solemnly swear (or affirm,
as the case may be) that have, to the best of
my knowledge or belief delivered, or caused
TO be delivered into the post office at or nearest
said port, every letter and every bag, parcel,
or package Of letters that were on board the
state the name Of the ship or VESSEL during
her last voyage, and that have 30 delivered
or caused 10 be delivered all such letters, bags,
parcels, snd packages as were in my posses
sion or under my power or control" And the
collector, and every officer of the customs at
every port, without special instructions, and
every special agent of the Post Office Depart
ment, when instructed by the Postmaster Gen
eral to make examinations and seizures shall
carefully search every vessel for letters which
may be on board, or have been carried or
transported contrary TO law, and each and
every of such officers and agents. ard every
marshal Of the United States and his deputies,
shall at all times have power to seize all let
terS, and packages, and parcels containing let
ters which shall have been sent or conveyed
contrary to law on board any ship or vessel, or
on or over any post route of the United States,
and TO convey such letters to the nearest post
office, or may, If the Postmaster General and
the Secretary of the Treasury shall so direct.
detain the said letters or any part thereof un-
til two months after the trial and final deter
mination of all suits and proceedings which
may at any time within six months after such
seizure be brought aga gainst any person for send
ing, or carrying, or transporting any such let
ter contrary to eny provisions of any act Of
Congress; and one half of any penalties that
may be recovered for the illegal sending, car
rying, or transportation OF any such letters
shall be paid to the officer so seizing, and the
other half to the use Of the Post Office Depart
ment; and every package or parcel SO seized.
in which any letter shall be concealed, shall
be forfeited to the United States, and the same
proceedings may be had to enforce such for
feiture as authorized in respect to goods.
wares, and merchandise forfeited by reason Of
any violation of the revenue laws of the Uni
ted States; and all laws for the benefit and
protection of officers of the customs seizing
goods, wares, or merchandise for a violation of
any revenue law Of the United States shall ap-
ply to the officers and agents making seizures
by virtue of this act. See. 5, act Of AHgnst
81, 1852
#Sections 14O and l57 also make provision on
this head.
Sec. l46. A'sd be 1T further enacted, That it
shall be lawful for the Postma aster General to
make provision, when it may be necessary, for
the receipt of all letters and packets intended
to be conveyed by any ship or vessel beyond
sea, or fsom any port in the United States to
another port therein; aud the letters so re-
ceived shall be formed into a mail, sealed up,
and directed to the postmaster of the port TO
which such ship or vessel shall be bound and
for every letter or packet 50 received, there
shall be paid, at the time of its reception,
postage of one cent, which shall be for the use
OF the postmasters respectively receiving the
same. And tho Postmaster General may make
arrangements with the postmasters in any for
eign country, for the reciprocal receipt and
delivery of letters and packets through the
post Office. Sec. "a, act Of 1926.
IrO BE CONTINUED