The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-03-21
(From the Cincinnati CONNER rcial.)
The Work Ofthe Last Congress.


The last Congress was talking body;
in fact, its notoriety in this respect has
oversha adowed the merits it really pos
sessed. In spite Of all the speechmaklng
and parliamentary ssirmlshing, more
than respectable amount Of work-some
of it cf great mporarce-was transacted
especially during the late session. Ihe
most noticeable of it's Legislative lransac
lions it is our purpose to consider at the
present time.
The amendment of the Constitution
prohibiting interference with or the abo-
lIi,ion of Slavery by Congress in the States
where it exists; the three acts providing
for the organization Ct the Territories OF
Nevada. Dacotah and Colorado. and the
nav tariff act, were the chief measures
OF the secession.
The following appropriation bills were
also passed, viz Invalid and other pen
sions. Military Academy, Army, Navy,
Post Office, Indian. Consular and Dlplo-
D matte; Executive. Legislative and Judi
cial and sundry civil expenses, the last
being generally described as "mscellans'
ous.' :,
4 The above appropriations are generally
. far from extravagant. That Tor forts and
. atscnals amounts to S270.000. The navy
y appropriation act includes. besides the
% usual appropriations, 81 100000 Tor the
construction of seven new war steamers
. and about 500, 90 for repairs ofhospitals
, and marine barracks.
y. The PoslotIice appropriation establishes
y a large number of new routes, and au
= .horizes the Postmaster General TO fur
~ .. nish letter sheets with postage stamp
. . impressed thereon, combining in one th
e sheet and the envelope. The unclalme'
il money from dead letters, is to DO dcvo'e
i to the improvement OF the Dead Le''e
y; cfice, furnishing the means for NOR
~ " careful examination OF letters, and for th
~. ~ return to their writers o! q greater nun
~, ~ Der of these misdirscted, New rates ar
I Ios also levied on letters for foreign countrle
~. ~ This section of the acts is as follows;
W. Every letter or packet brought to tn
United States, or CARED from one poi
,ot therein to another in any private ship
'n Of vessel, shall be charged with five cen
~ stare if delivered at the Postoth
or where it arrives, and If Gestired to
,Ss do conveyed by post 10 any place, with tv
,ts M cents added to the ordinary rates OF pos
,os w age: provided that upon all letters
' a, packets conveyed in whole or in part /
,,,' steamers or steamships over any rou
If upon which, or upon ports or places
.os. tween which, the mail is regularly co
,,;l veyed in other vessels, under contra
~, W. with tho Postoflice Department, the saG
,ms charges shall be levied, with the addlti
Of two cents per letter or packet had be
rot, transmitted regularly through the mail
" Among the other provisions in the |
md are these:
,"to "o 1t shall bo lawful for persons known
,ds. regular dealers in newspapers and pc
o,os odicals to receive by mail such quantl'
,nI. of either as they may require, and to
,ado the postage thereon as they may be
,;or oeived, at the same rates as regular 81
noo. scribers 10 such publications.
and Maps, eugravings, photographic or p
iroJ tographic prints on rollers or in pa
''N covers, books, bound or unbound, =
oy,J tographic paper and letter envelo
M Mn shall be deemed mailable matter,
bod charged with postage by the weight
,ron, the package--not in any case to exc
~ Wv four pounds-at the rate Of ono cent
. h, ounce or fraction Of an ounce to any P
from, in the United States under l,SO0 mi
o,on and at the rate of two cents an ounce
,n;,o, fraction Of an ounce, over 1,50O mile
rnr. to be prepaid by postage stamps,
Cards, blank or printed; blanks
,lon, packages weighing eight ounces; seed
. ovt. cuttings in packages weighing not
" ceeding eight ounces, shall also be dc
: tho ed maiable matter, aud charged
II, 10 postage at the rates last mentioned
reign maps, books. &c.
,,ont The ten.cont rate of postage mentiC
.ossn, in the act of March 5, 1855, (for lei
vii to California, &c. must be prepaid;
NO ;s all drop letters must be prepaid; by
ces TO age stamps.
ost;ou There are other features Of Interest
on oil 'no "PP' ''P'
ID the OF wh'en We nave 'p"oo W 'n'"IGo nn.;oo
nfolm however OBSERVES os'e'"' "SVS ",
9TH changes 'ne W"n"et VI mNA" r.
contracts, so that the country is lns
war of against 'ne itaGuuie"' eAP.ons as.o " ~ ~
pend tLoYDs-H' lnueeu, % i.o,;oe"' o.;as 70 " y
uld be more 'nan one c' 'hM SP''''
would IL p'oVlueS ~ Fo''o"s'