I
A NATIONAL PAPER, PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 6q, HIGH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 89, of Vol. lII.]
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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