I A NATIONAL PAPER, PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 6q, HIGH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA [No. 89, of Vol. lII.] Oflfy <» #' SECOND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. AT THE FIRST SESSION, and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Penn sylvania, Monday the twenty-fourth of October, one thouland seven hundred and ninety-one. An ACT to establish the Post-Office and Post- Roads within the United States. BE it enacted by the Senate and Hor.fe of Representatives of the United Srates of America, in Congress alTembled, That from and after the firft day of June next, the following road* be cftab lifhed as port-roads, namely : From Wifcaffet in the diftrif't of Maine, to Savannah in Georgia, by ihe following route, to wit : Portland, Portsmouth, Newburyport, Ipswich, Salem, Bolton, Worcefter,Springfield, Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven,Strat tord, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, New-York, Newark, Eliza bethtown, Woodbridg*\ Brunfwick, Princeton, Trenton, Bristol, Pniladelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Elkton, Charleftown, Havre de Grace, Hartford, Baltimore, Bladmfburg, Georgetown, Alex - anaria, Colchester, Dumfries, Fredenckfburg, Bowl'ng-Greeo. Hanover Court-house, Richmond, Petersburg, Halifax, Ta'bo rough, Smithfield, Fayetteville, Newbridge over Drowning creek, Cheraw Court-house, Camden, Statefburg, Columbia, Cambridge and Augusta ; and from thence to Savannah, and from Augusta, by Walhington in Wilkes County to Greenborough, and from thence by the great falls of Ogechee and Georgetown to Augusta, and from Statefburg toCharlefton, and from Charlcfton to George town, from (Jharlefton to Savannah, and from Savannah by New port bridge to Sunbury ; and also from. Portsmouth by Exeter and Concord, to Hanover in New-Hampshire ; and from Salem to Marblthead, and from Salem to GlouCester ; and from Boston, by Providence, Newport, and New-London, to New-Haven; and from Boston, through Taunton, to New-Bedford ; and from Taunion, through Warren and Briitol, to Newport; and from Boston, by Plymouth, to Barnftable; and from Springfield in the state of Maftachufetts, to Kinderhook in the state of New-York, and from Springfield, by Northampton, Brattleborough, and Charleftown, by Windsor in Vermont, to Hanover, and fron Hartfo'd, by Middletown, to New-London; also from Hartford to Norwich and Providence ; and from Providence to Worcester ; and from Philadelphia, by Lancaster, Yorktown, Carlisle, Ship penfburg, Chamberfburg, Bedford, and Greenfburg, to Pittfburg; and Irdm Philadelphia to Bethlehem ; from Bethlehem, by Read ing and Harrifburg, to Carlisle; and from Bethlehem, by Eafton, Suflex Court-houle, Gofhen, Ward's Bridge, and Kingston, to Rhinebrck ; from Philadelphia, by Salem, to Bridgetown ; and from Wilmington, by Warwick, Georgetbwn, Cross-roads, Chef tertown, Chester-mills, and Eafton, to Vienna ; and from Vienna, by Salisbury, to Snow-Hill; also from Wilmington, by Newcastle, Cantwell's Bridge and Duck-Creek, to Dover; and from thence by Milford, Dagfborough, Snow-Hill and Northampton Court house, to Norfolk in Virginia ; and from Balnmoie to Annapolis, Upper Marlborough, Pifcatawa, Port-Tobacco, Allen's Frcfb, Newport, and Chaptico, to Leonard-Town ; and from Richmond by Will.a mfbuTg, Yorktown and Hampton, to Norfolk ; and from Frederickfburg, by Port-Royal and Tappahannock. to Urbanna ; and from thence, crofling Rappahannock, and proceeding bv Nor thumberland Court-house, to Kinfale on the river Yeocomico; thence by Wcftmoreland Court-house, threugh Leed's town, to Frederickfburg ; and from Pctcrfburg, by Cab;n-Point, Smith field, and Suffolk, to Portsmouth, and from Suffolk to Edcnton, and by Plymouth to Wafhtngton ; and from Washington to New bern, and thence to Wilmington; and from Favetteville, by Eli 2abethtown, to Wilmington ; and from Halifax, by Warrington, Hillfborough, Salem, to Salisbury ; from Halifax, bv B!unt*s ville, Wilharnfton, Dai leys to Plymouth ; and from Edenton, by Hert ford, Nixonton, Sawyer's Ferry, in Camden County, to Indian Town, in Currituck County ; and from New-Yoi k, by Albany, Bennington, Mancheller and Rutland, to Burlington on Lake Champlain ; ana from Albasy, by Schencft dy, to Connajoiharrie; from New-York to Hartford, through White-plains,North-Caftle, Salem, Poundridge, Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, New-Mil ford, Litchfield, Harrington and Farmingion ; from Newaik or Elizabethtown, by Morriitown, to Sufi x Court-house ; from Woodbridge to Amboy ; from Alexandria, by Salisbury, Leef burg, Shepherd's-town, Martinfburg, Winchester, Stevenfburg, Strafburg, Woodftock. and Rockingham Court-house, to .Staun ton ; and from Richmond, bv Columbia, Charlottefville, Staun ton, Lexington, Fincaftle, Montgomery Court-house, Wythr Couit-houfe, Abingdon, and Hawkin's Court-house, in the terri tory south of the river Ohio, to Dan\illc in Kentuckey ; and from Baltimore, by Fredericktown and Sharpfburg, to Hagarftown ; and from thence to Chamberfburg : Provided, That the route, by which the mails are at present conveyed, (hall in no cafe be alter ed, without the consent of the contractor , till the contracts made by the Postmaster-General shall be determined. And be it further ena&ed, Thai it fhal< and may be lawful for, the Postmaster-General to enter into contracts, for a term not ex ceeding eight years; for extending the 1 ne of posts, and to autho rize the pei son or pcrions, so coniratl.ng, to receive, during the continuance of such contract, according to the rates by this ast established, all the poiiage which shall arise on le;ters, newlpapers and packets, conveyed by any such post ; and the roads, therein defignatcd, lhall, during ihc continuance of such contract, be deemed and considered as poft-ioads, within th** terms and pro visions of this ast: Provided, That no such contract shall be made, to the diminution of the revenue of the general poft-officc, and that a duplicate of every such contract, under hand and seal, shall, wiihin fixtv diy* after the execution thereof, be lodged in the of taceofthe Comptroller of theTreafury of the United State. And be it further enacted, That thire fhalt be established, at the feat of the government of the United States, a general pofl oSßce. And there shall be one Postmaster-General. who shaM have authority to appoint an affiltanr, and deputy poftmafteis, at all places where such shall be found necessary. And he shall provide tor carrying the mail ©f ihe United Suies, by or Saturday, March 5, 1792. horses, as ne may judge mod expedient ; and as often as he, hav ing regard to the produtiiveoefs thereof, as well as other circum ltances, shall think proper, and defray the expense thereof, with all other expen!-. <; arip.ng on the collection and management of the revenue ot the poft-office He shall also have power to prescribe such regulations to the deputy postmasters, and others employed uadej him, as may be found neceifary, and to superintend the bu fi less of the department, in ail the duties that arp, or mav be as signed to it, and afo to direct t■»e route or road, wheie there are more than one, between the places above eftablilhed, which »oute or road lhall be considered as the poll-road. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster-General shall, ence in three months, obtain from his deputies, the arid vouchers of their receipts and expenditures, and the balances due thereon, and render to the Secretary of the Treasury, a quarterly account of all the receipts and exp ndirures in the said depart ment, to be adjusted and fettled,, as other public accounts, and " all pay, quarterly, i.ito the Treasury of the United States, the balance in his hands. And the P >itinafter-Gencral, and his as sistant, the deputy poftmalters, and such as they may employ in their offices, (hall, refpeftiveiv, before tn y enter upon the duties, or be entitled to receive the emoluments of their offices, and the contractors for carrying the moil, and thrir agents or servants, to whom the mat! lhall be ent»ufted, before they commence the ex ecutor. of said tiuft, fhail respectively, take and fubferibe before fomejufticeot the peace, the following oath or affirmation, and cause a cert ficate thereof to be filed in the office of the Poilmafter- General ; " I do fweaf (or affii m as the cafe may be) (hat 1 will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the law in relation to the establishment of port-offices and post- oarts within the United States." And be it fuaher cna&ed, That if any person (hall obftruft or retard the passage of the mail, or of any horse or carnage carrying the fame, he shall, upon conviction tor every such cffeace, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. And if any ferryman (hall, bv wilful negligence, or refufal to transport the "mail across any ferry, delay the fame, he shall forfeit, and pay, tor each hail hour that the fame shall be so delayed, a lum noi exceeding ten dollars. And be it further eha&fd, That it (hall be the duty of the ?oft maftcr-General, to }<ive public notice in one or more of the news papers published at the feat of government of the United States, a id in one or more of the newfpapeis published in the state or states where the contract is to be performed, for, at least, fix weeks before th<* entering into any contra& for the conveyance of the mail that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it (hall be concluded ; d'efcribing the places, from and to which such mail is to be conveyed ; the time at which it is to be made up ; the day and hour, at which it is to be delivered ; and the penalty or penalties for non-performance of the stipulations. He (hall, moreover, within thiity days after the making of any contract, lodge the fame, together with the proposals which he shall have received refpetling the fame, in the ofi&c.e of the Comp troller of the treasury of the United States. And be it further enacted, That every deputy postmaster shall keep an office in which one or more persons (hail attend at such hours s the Poftmarter-generai shall direst, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof. And all letters brought to any poft-ofnee, half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office, shall be forwarded therein. And be it further enabled, That from and after the patting of this ast, the Postmaster-General fha!l be allowed, for his services, at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, his assistant, at the rate of one thousand dollars per annum, to be paid, quarterly, out of the revenues of the poll-office : And no fees or perquisites (hall be received by either of them, on acconnt of the duties to be per formed in virtue of their appointments. And be it further ena&ed, That from and after the firft day of June next, the deputv postmaster and persons authorized by the Poftmafter-Gcneral, fliall demand and recetve, for the portage and conveyance of letters and packets, except such as are herein after excepted, according to the several rates and lums following : For the postage of every single letter, to or from any place by land not exceeding thirty miles, fix cents ; over thirty miles, and not exceeding sixty, eight cents ; over sixty miles, and not exceeding one hundred, ten cents ; over one hundred miles, and not exceed ing one hundred and fifty, twelve cents and a half; over one hun dred and fifty miles,and not exceeding two hundred, fifteen cents; over two hundred miles, and not exceeding two hundred and fif ty, seventeen cents ; over two hundred fifty miles, and not exceeding three hundred and fifty, twenty cents; over three hun dred and fifty miles, and not exceeding four hundred and fifty, twenty-two cents ; and to from any place by land, more than four hundred and fifty miles, twenty-five cents ; and every double letter shall pay double the said rates ; every triple letter, triple ; every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, to pay, at the rate cf four for each ounce, and in that proportion, for any greater weight. And be it further ena&ed, That all, letters and packets, parting bv Tea to and from ihe United Slates, or from one port to another therein, in packct boats or veflels, the property of, or provided by the United States, (hall be rated and charged, as follows : For every Tingle letter, eight cents ; for every double letter, sixteen cents ; for every triple letter or packet, twenty-four cents ; for every letter or packet brought into the United Stales, or carried from one port therein to another by sea, in any private ship or veflel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the fame shall ar rive ; and if direded to be delivered a; any other place, with the addition of the like pottage, as other letters are made fubjed to the payment of by this ad. And be it further enaded, That if any deputy postmaster, or other person authorized by the Postmaster-General, to rcccive the pottages of letters, fiiall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of pottage, or any gratuity or reward, other than is provid d b\ this ad for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he (hall-forfeit for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and fha'l be rendered incapable of holding any office under the Unit ed States. And be it further enaded, ThatnoPnipor veil" I, arriving at any port within the United States, where a poft-ofiice is ettablifh ed. (hall be permitted to report, make entry or break bulk, till the mailer or commander (hall have delivered to the postmaster. ali letters direded to anv person or persons within the United S rates, which, under his care or within his power, (hall be brought in such ship or veflel, other than such as are direded to the owner or confignte : but when a veflel (hall be boun<t to another port, than that, at Which (hr may enter, the lexers belonging to, or to be de livered at the said port of delivery, fhali not be delivered to the poflrcaftcr at the port of entry. And it lhall be the duty of the 353 [Whole No. 297.3 ■ - collcflor or other officer of the port, empowered to receive entries ol (hips or velfrls, to require from erery matter or commandcr of tach fhipor veflVl, an oath or affirmation, parpoViirig that he has delivered all such letters, except as alorelnd. And be it further ena&ed, That the postmasters to whom such lcttets may be delivered, shall pay u> the matter, commander, or other person delivering the fame,except the commanders of fo reign packets, two ccnts tor every such letter or packet ; and ill aIV obtain from the person delivering the fame, a certificate fpretty ing tne number of letters and packets, with rhe name of the ship or veflel, and the place from whence (he last failed ; which certi ficate, together with a receipt for the money, fhali be with hi# half-yearly accounts, transmuted to the Poftmafter-Generil, who lhall credit the amount thereof to the postmaster forwarding the lame. And be it further enacted, That if any person, other than the Poftmzlter-General, or his deputies, or persons by them employ ed, lhall take up, receive, order, dispatch, convey, carry or deli ver any letter or letters, packet or packets, other tnan newfoapers, tor hire or leward, or shall be concerned in setting up any loot or horse post, waggon or other carriage, by or in which any letter or packet lhall be carried/or hire, on ;.ny eftablilhed post-road, or any packet, or othervefTel or boat, or any conveyance whatever, whereby the revenue of the general pod-office may be injure!, every person, so offending, (hall forfeit, for every such offline, the sum of two hundred dollars: Provided, Thit it shall and may be lawful for every person to fend leitcrs or packets by fpc ciai mefferiger. And be it further enii&ed, That the deputy poftinafters or agenta of the Postmaster-General, lhall duly account and anl wer to him, for all bye or way letters, and (hall fpecify the number and rajes in the post bill. And if any deputy poftinaller or agent (hall ne glect so to account, he or thev so offending, lhal!, on conviction theieof, lorlett, (or eve:y iuch otrcnce, a lutn not exceeding one hundred dollais. And be it further enafled, Tfu t if anv person, employed in any ofth* departments of the general pofi-office, (hall unlawlully de ta n, delay, or open, an) later, packet, bag or mail oi letters, with which he lhallbe entrusted, or which lhall have come to his pof- IcffioD, and which are intended to be conveyed by poll : Or i£ any such person shall fecretc, embezzle or destroy any letter or packet, intruded to him, >s aforefaid, and which lhall not con tain any fecuriiy for, or 3(furance relating to money, as herein af ter defcribea, every iuch offender, being thereof duly convicted, (hall, for every fuC n offence, oe fined not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprifonefl exceeding lix months, or both, accord ing to the circumilances and of the offence. And if any person, employed as aforeiait., ih ill fecrcte, embezzle or de stroy, any letter, packet, bag, or maiJ U* Otters, with which he (hall be eutrufted, or which lhall have corf)-; to his polfeflion, and are intended to be conveyed by pelt, containingbank note,or bank poll bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the Treasury of the United States, note of aflignment of Hock in ihe funds, attorney for receiving anr.uities or dividends, or for felling ifotk in the (unds, or for receiving the iniereft thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to the payment ol money, or bond or warrant, drafr, bill, or pronv.ffory note whatsoever, for the payment of money ; oi »r any such person, employed as afon faid, lhall Ileal 01 take any of the fame out of any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, that (hall come to h s polfefiion, he (hall, on conviction, foi any such offcnce, luffcr death. And if any per son, who (hall have taken charge ol the mail of the United States, (hall quit or desert the fame, before his arrival at the next poit-ot fice,every such person, so offending, (hall forfeit and pay a sum, not exceeding five hundred dollars, for every such oifence. And if any peifon, concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, (hall collect, receive or carry any 1 iter or packet, or (hall cause or procure the fame to be done, contrary to this ast, every luch offender (hall forfeit and pay, for every iuch offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars. And belt turther ena£led, That if any person or persons shall rob any carrieHof the mail of the United States, of such mail, or if any person shall rob the mail, jn which letters are lent to be conveyed by poll, of any letter or packet, or shall steal such mail, or shall steal and take from or out of the fame, or from or out of any poft-office, any letter or packet, such oftender or offenders shall, on convi&ion thereof, futfer death. And be it further ena&ed, That :he deputy postmasters shall, refpe&ively, publish at the expiraticn of every three months, in one of the newspapers publilhed at, or ns?reft the place of his re sidence, for three fucceflive weeks, a lift of *11 the letters then re maining in their relpeitivc offices; and at the expiration of the next three months, fhalf feud such of the said letters as then re main oo hand, as dead letters, to the general poft-office, where the-/ fame shall be opened and infpetled ; and if any valuable papers or matter of confequencej shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the Poftmrfter-General, to cause a descriptive lift thereof to be infeited in one cf the newlpapers, publifhea at the place most con venient to where the owner may be luppofed to reside, if within the United States, and such letter and the extents shall be pre served, to be delivered to the person, to whom the fame shall be addrefftd, upon payment of the poitage, aad the .xpenfe of pub lication. And be it further enaded, That the following letters and pack ets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage, under such rcftridionsas are herein after provided ; that is to fay—all letters and packets to or from the Prefidcot or Vics - of the United States, and all letters and packets, not ex ceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Se» uate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Reprefentauves, during their adual attend ance in any feifion of Congrels, and twenty days after such feflion. All letters to and from the Secretary of the Treafurv, and his as sistant, Comptroller, Register, and Auditor of the Treafurv, thf Treasurer, the Secretary of State, the Secretary at War, the CortJ miffioners for fettling the accounts between the United States and i dividual States, the poftmafUr-Genera! ana his afliftaut: Pro vided, That no periou shall frank or enclose any letter or packct, other than his own ; but any oublic letter or packet from the de partment of the Tieafurv may be franked by the Secretary of the Treafurv, or the a Aidant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Regis ter, Auditor or Ticafurer. And that each peifon before named (hail deliver to the poft-officc every letter or packet encloied t# him, which ms) be direded toany other person, noting the place, front whence it came by pott, aud the usual pottage Ihull be char ged thereon. And be it further enacted, That if any person fhal! counterfctt the Iwnd-wnting of aav other perion, in order to evade the pay meat of poftvge, such person or psiioitt, fu <wteo4ing, and being
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