Huntingdon journal. (Huntingdon, Pa.) 1843-1859, March 13, 1851, Image 2

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    THE JOURNAL.
•011111 CT PEINCIPLES-SVPTORTED tIT TRUTH.
HUNTINGDON, PA.
TlOrshy M ruing, Mateh 13, N3l;
TERMS OF PUBLICATION:
Tin "flormionolt JouRNAL" is publishal at
be fallowing rates, viz:
paid in advance, per annum, $1,75
paid daring the year, 2,00
If paid after the expiration of the year,• • 2,50
To Clubs of fi•eor more, in advance, • • • 1,50
Tar above Terms will he adhered to in all cases.
3Ro subscription will he taken for a less period than
Az months, and no paper will he discontinued un
til all arrearages are paid, unless at the option of
the publisher.
V. B. PALMER
Is onr anthorized agent in Philadelphia, New
York and Baltimore, to receive advertisements.
and any persons in those cities wishing to &Over
liihe its our columns, will please call on him.
Gen." Scott and his Friends.
Its the Pennsylvania Telegraph of tie sth inst.,
we observed what may he called a card or pla
card, undersigned by a large another of the Whig
members of the Legislature, modestly suggesting
to the Whigs of Pennsylvania that they ought to
come out for Gen. Scott for President.
This is the most inv n 'ent, officious and offen
sive piece of extra-legislation we have seen for
some time. We had hoped the day of Congres
sional and Legislative nominations had gone by
forever, and that the people would have been
kindly permitted to think and get in these matters
for themselves The Whigs of Pennsylvania du
not need the suggestions or dictates of any man
or set of men to direct in their choice of a
Presidential Candidate. They are, with mune
cedentol unanimity, in favor of the nomination
of Gen. Scott, and were so perhaps before some
Of those who issue this political boll were for him ;
and the recent discovery at Harrisburg of the fit
ness of Gen. Scott for President, comes too late
to entitle those who made it, to Letters Patent.
If the signers of the pla-card supposed that the
influence of their names would turn the hearts of
the people to Gen. Scott, they labor tender a sli g ht
mistake in this also, for the mats of the Whigs,
and many Democrats, love, and have loved for
years, his name and fhme, better and longer, than,
perhaps, they have known or admired some of
them. The paper is dated March 5, 1851, the
nest day after the members got home from their
railroad excursion to Washington, (that is, tho se
of them who did not return on Sunday,) and we
submit, in all candour, if this card, issued jest
after their calling upon Gen. Scott, is not, to say
the least of it, in had taste, and as unfair to the
General as to thetnseives. In onr humble judg
ment, this is the second error already committed
by the friends of Gen. Scott—the first one hap•
paned at Wilmington, Del., last fall—we trust this
will he the last.
We hare only to say, in reply, that at the prop
er time the Whigs of Huntingdon county wilt
meet, and, with unanimity and enthusiasm, de
clare for Gen. Scott, hut they wilt not meet one
hour the sooner or shout the louder fur Scott by
reason of this card, or anything contained in it,
or any name attached to it. In rettt'e, permit us
to suggest to the members of the Legislature "to
meet and consuit togerber upon t::e expediency
end propriety of" attending to their own busi
ness. This thing of eating Turpentine Snipers
derange , the stomach. and riding on the railroad
snakes some folks' beads diary.
ea r It will he gratirying to the numerous friends
of the FCay. JAMES li. OR/1150N, to learn that he
linded safely at Calcutta on the 31st of December
last, in good health and spirits, after a pleasant,
bat protracted voyage of nearly five months.—
Lodiana, in Northern India, about twelve hund
red miles from Calcutta, is the 'Missionary Sta
tion to which Mr. Orbison has been appointed,
and which he has no doubt reached before this.
gir From the Cheap Postage Bill, published
in another column, it will he seen that from and
after the Ist of July next, the Journal will reach
suhscrihers in this county free of postage; and
letters will he carried for 3 cents postage when
prepaid. We expect two good results from this,
to wit: a large increase of subscribers, and that
correspondents will pay the postage on their let
ters, particularly when they write on their own
business.
o r We understand that the contract for put
ting up the public buildings of Fulton county has
been lot to Robert Madden, John Robertson and
Aaron Stains of this county. They are all con
tractors of energy and experience, and will make
• good job of work for the new county.
Case of Commodore Jones.
Commodore Jona. , of the Caged States Navy,
has issued an address to the public in religion to the
decision of the Court Martial, by which he was
recently tried. He complains that the sentence
was published without affording him time for an
appeal to the Chief Magistrate, and he therefore
has deemed it proper to submit a brief review of the
proceedings and the setence to his fellow citizens.
lie says:
" 'Tis true I have been tried by a court of Peers
end it is equally true that by that court I wan pro
nounced "not rutty" of any net constitatit:g crime
or offence against law or morals; and yet a na.•jar
ity of that court, after virtually finding me not guil
ty, have pronounced a sentence against me. the
like of which cannot find a parallel in the .annals
Of cavil trials. The findings of the court, wherever
imputing guilt, arc in opposition to the cralrueo
bet . ° 'e , ; and tas sentence, too, is repug
nant to !SIC !ing . N. But this is tot the auspi
cious moment to c.spate the combinations by which
the catastrophe was brought about. In due time
you shall have the truth, the whole truth, unit
nothing but the truth, from a source which nuns
NM question, and all will acquiesce in."
—lie concludes by Asking a suspension of
e t a the ci7lject can he fairly presented
to she President, "who, it is believed has not yet,
under the pressure of other business, had time to
prier, the protvettnay."
Correspondence of the Huntingdon Journal.
Letter from Harrisburg.
lIARMSBURG, March lb, 1851:
DEAR Cot.—Our Legislature, after their visit
to Washington via. Baltimore, have returned and
entered upon their duties with increased zeal.
Most of the time of oar Legislature is consum
ed in passing local laws, And, as a necessary eon.
.equenee, there is really but little to interest the
people. • '
. . .
As I predicted, the Legislature did not pass the
Tariff Resolutions. Notwithstanding, there was
a majority who were professedly the friends of pro
tection, yet that portion which belong to the Loco
Foco party, were really of very little use,—their
love for the Tariff was swallowed up in their love
tOr their party ; and rather than he compelled to
vote against their free trade party, they have (mi
ddy thrown diffieulties in the way, and succeeded
11 staving off the vote on the Tariff Resolution.
They fancy that they can cajole and cheat the
teople in those localities where they know and
frel the advantages of protection, Icy keeping up c
chow of attachment to it, while at the same titter
they are most enctually working with the ene
trues to the measure. I am, however, not with
out hope that they may really have accomplished
good by their double-dealing. They have await
coed the true spirit of their party—Free Trod,;
Ind have forced their free trade orators to speak
Thus the people may learn their true posi
eon upon this question. If my hopes are reedp
find which our party have so loudly pre -
claimed and they have su boldly denied, viz t that
1 the 01k-culled Democratic party was the Dritisi.
Free Trade Party, will be made apparent, and the
IVltig party will be known as the Home Protect it
Party.
In the Senate, the Committee to whom was le
!hired the Free Banking Bill, have reported it
hack to the Senate, with their opinion that it l
oot unconstitutional, and the discaission has alteade
commence,' upon this important measure.
If I am not much mistaken, another troth will
be developed, which has fin• years been pronounc
ed a " Whig lie." The party calling itself Dem
ocratic has been the parent of all (or nearly so)
of the Banking Monopolies of the State,—that
party created them,—while they have industrious-
Is charged the sin upon the Whigs. They have
always pretended to he the anti-monopolists, in
fiivor of equal rights, and opposed to legislating
fur a particular class. This Free Banking Law is
to make banking free to all; it snatches out of
the hands of monopolising corporations the en
elusive privilege of making bank notes, and gives
it iota the howls of the people. It does more it
secures the only interest which under the old sys
tem Was always the sufferer—the note holder.—
Under the old system, when a bank failed all its
property and funds were grabbed and carried off
by the favored few, while the poor laborer, who
hadfive or a ten of their paper was robbed of the
means of buying bread. Under this Free Bank
ing Law, the innocent note-bolder :cannot lose a
dollar. Every dollar of circulation will be secur
ed by State Stocks, and when one of the Free
Banks stop, or is closed, their notes will be all
paid, and will pass just as freely as before the
Wore. Under this system no poor Mall can lose
a penny. X* led to believe that the "Denim.-
racy" will, in general, oppose thtsfree system, and
prove at last the charge our party have so long
made: that they were the Link Party—the Mo
nopoly Party. It Is more than likely that a few of
that patty will act with the friends of Free Bank
ing—perhaps only enough so that (no with the
Tariff) they may say it is not a party mensure,—
while tier will be careful that the bill shall be
finally killed. I hope, however, that enough trill
he found who will honestly advocate, and carry it
into a law; yet, I urn free to say, I think it quite
doubtful. But, no matter, let the Whigs " fight
on, fight ever,"—the victory will at last be ours.
Pennsylvania will not forever remain behind.—
Progress, is on our standard; and Whig zeal—
Whig labor—Whig principles, and the Whig party,
will at last gloriously triumph.
Mr. Penniman, from the Committee on Inland
Navigation, reported a bill providing for the elec
tion of a Superintendent of Public Works, nd in
fact abolishing the present system of electing
Canal Commissioners. This is adopting one of
the suggestions of Gon. Johnston. On Friday
there was a short discussion upon the bill, but it
was subsequently made the special order for Fri
, day the 114th instant. I have no idea that the
' . party in power will permit it to pass,—they are
too closely wedded to the corruptions anti plunder
of the old system.
The Philadelphia Consolidation Hill, making
one city of the whole county of Philadelphia, is
likely to cause a good deal of discussion, and it is
very &Weill if it passes, notwithstanding it was
a question which entered largely into the last
election, nod candidates were compelled to declare
,tor the measure before they could get the votes of
the people.
By a reference to the proceedings of the House
you will see that an net compelling the llarrisbnrg
and Lancaster Rail Road Compass- to fence their
road, in Dauphin county, was finally passed,
and an amendment compelling the l'en.ylvania
Road, and one or two others, to do the saute was
l ent oil by the application of the out Legislative
gag—the previous question, and I regret to Fee
that the gag was applied by the talented member
from Dauphin. As be is the counsel of the Penn
sylvania Road, it looks too much like the interes
ted interference of the Company itself. The peo
ple of our State must watch the movements of
this Mammoth Corporation. It will soon wield a
power which will be hunt to control, and danger
ous to the interests of our State. Rail Roads
should be encouraged, but not flattered by a crisp
. i n z ohedienco to their exactions. They are nit
synipatLetic sou/s, to say the least of it—they love
their profits better than they do the people—their
feelings are all in their pockets—they are more
grabbing than grater .l, and the people should be
vigilant, while vigilance way he effective.
The Governor has been absent fur a week, on a
, as I hare been told, to his father in West
' moreland county, (who, it is said, has not been
very well fur some time put.) It is expected that
he will return to-morrow.
You, Dear Col., I have no doubt, will regret to
learn that, that excellent physician and worthy
man, Dr. Luther &Air, has bvv* , ";
for a few days. He was attacked with a severe
htemorhage of the lungs. This is, I believe, the
second attack during his life. ITe is something
'better now, yet, I fear, not entirely onto( danger.
Ms loss would he a severe one to this commtml
tr, and his place hard to fill. That be may still
be spared is my earnest prayer.
On Saturday morning our citizens awoke to
&id the streets and side-walks all carpeted with
snow, more having fallen during the night - before
than during all of the 'preceding Portion of the
winter. Snow . is a chilly conipanion, and I was
not sorry to see that old Sol soon melted it away,
and instead of glaring whiteness gave ns the dull.
gray earth to gate at. tours, MIME.
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.
The following it a summary of the proceedings
of Congress for the last few days taken from the
Bulletin telegraphic reports. It embraces nearly
the business of the whole session.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, AfxrCh 4
All yesterday afternoon and evening were spent
in discussing the River and Harbor Bill ; numer
ous resolutions having its defeat in view, being of
fered and rejected. After 9 o'clock a stiverni.
of the rules was obtained, and the Post office Ap•
propriation Bill was received front the House.—
The Senate insisted on its amendments, and a
Committee of Conference was appointed who re
‘orted a bill, and it was then passed finally. The
Postage hill was also received, and the 11011,P
nnendinenti being concurred in, the bill was pas
sed.
The River and Harbor hill was then resumed.—
Midnight came, and the question arose as to the
termination of the session ; Mr. Cass considering
that it ended at 12o'clock, and others maintaining
that it continued till 12 o'clock on Tuesday, March
4th. The rights of those Senators to vote whose I I
terms expired were also discussed. Finally a res
olution offered by Mr. Yulee, to the of bct that the
session did not terminate till 12 o'clock noon, of
Tuesday, March 4th, was agreed to.
Then, after a scene of confusion unsurpassed by
anything ever before witnessed in the Senate, the
River and Harbor Appropriation Bin was laid on
the table.
The amendments to the Civil and Diplomatic
Appropriation Bill were taken up. Mr. Chase
moved to add to it the River and Harbor Bill as
passed by the House. Rejected. An amendment
providing for additional clerks inthe State Depart
ment was also rejected. The bill was reported at
6 o'clock this morning end the amcndtnents were
ordered to be engrossed.
The Army Appropriation Bill with amendments
was reported and the amendments were concurred
in.
The Nary Appropriation Bill was referred to
the Committee.
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill,
with amendments, was then passed.
The Senate refused to take up the joint resolu
tion making land truiTants assignable.
Mr. Brudburry, from the Judiciary Committee,
reported hack the President's message relating to
the violation of law in Boston.
Mr. Jefferson Doris, front the Conference Com
mittee on the Army Appropriation Bill made a
report, which received the concurrence of the Sen-
Mr. Pearce reported back the Navy Appropria
tion Bill, and the amendment, were debated and
acted on.
The appropriation for a Naval Depot at New
Orleans was stricken out. That for Naval Works
at New York was increased to $50,000. The
amendment increasing the pay to the Collins' line
of steamers, was ruled out. An appropriation of
$80.600 to remove the wreck of the steamer Mis
souri at Gihralter, was adopted.
The Post Route Rill, with amendment, was pas
sed by general consent.
The Army Appropriation bill was signed by the
President of the Senate, and sent to the President
of the U. S. for signature.
The River and Harbor Bill is still lying on the
table, with no chance of its getting through.
The Senate has passed finally the Civil and Di
plomatic Appropriation Billl. .Aso, the Naval Ap
propriation Bill.
At ten o'clock the Senate was informed that the
President had signed the Army bill.
The rule was suspended, and the Nary bill was
sent to the President for his signature.
The joint resolution making military bounty
land warrants assignable, was then taken up.
The Appropriation Bills were passed.
A resolution of thanks to the President of the
Senate was adopted.
President Fillmore has called an Executive ses
sion.
The following new members were qualified :
Messrs. Bright, Bayard, Cass, Hamlin, Mason,
Pratt, Rusk, and Dodge.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House spent last evening and night in un
important business; only waiting the movements
of the Senate to adjourn sine die. Various messa
ges lions the President announcing that he had
signed bills, were received.
There being no important question before them
the members passed the time in good humored at
tempts to keep awake.
Front 4 o'clock this morning until 6, the time
was spent in making unimportant motions.
The House refused to concur in the Senate's
atnendments to the Civil and Diplomatic and
Army Appropriation Bills.
At half past seven the House took a recess till
nine o'clock.
At 9 o'clock the House re-asseml led, and was
called to order, though there was anything hut or
der observed in any part of the Hall. The gal
leries were crowded with spectators eager to wit
ness the lust hours of the session.
The members were all in excellent spirits and
good humor, notwithstanding their long session of
last night. Twenty or thirty of them were gen
erally on the floor at once, each one trying to speak
and motions of every kind were offered amid the
direst confusion.
Mr. Pluenix made an ineffectual attemptto bare
ei.e rules suapended, in order to introduce a bill
relative to the coinage of gold.
The Gpromitto. of Conlin . ..rico on the N-R ead
Diplomatic aid Army sad Nary Appropriation
1111111 have costumed in the *mime disputer'
amendment..
The llouseby yeas et, nay* 58, not two-thirds,
refased to condder the Senate's nrsolattott creating
the grade of Liens. General.
The reports of conferenee rommittees on disa
greeing to the amendments of the Bonzes to the
Civil and Diplomatic bill, the Navy and Army
bills, were concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Doer, the bill giving the as
cent of Congress that the Legislature of New York
mop , pass an act imposing a tonnage duty of five
cents per ton, for three years, on vessels coming to
Oswego. The proceeds to be applied to the repair
of piers and improvements in the harbor, was ta
ken up and passed. ,
The House, by yea. 31, nays 90, refused to sus
pend the rules to enable Mr. McLane to introduce
a bill providing for general tonnage.
Mr. Meade offered a resolution that the con
struction of the law relative to Public Printing be
referred to the Attorney General for decision.—
Nut agreed to.
Mr. Thompson moved and a committee WAS ap
pointed to wait on the President and inform him
if lie has no communication to make, the House
would adjourn sine die.
There was now great bustling and confusion all
over the House. Members sprang to their feet,
and there was a general shaking of hands and ex
changing of congratulations among all, on the hap
py termination of the session.
The Committee entered in the midst of the con
fusion, and reported that they had waited on the
President and he had informed them that he had
nothing further to communicate to them.
Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, then moved that
the House adjourn sine die.
The motion was carried by tremendous accla
mation.
Here there was a seem of the wildest disorder.
After a time a calm was produced to enable the
Speaker to say a few parting words.
Mr. Speaker Cobb rose then and made a beau
tiful and eloquent speech ; reviewing the proceed
ings of the session which has closed so harmoni
ously, leaving the Union still undisturbed. lie
tendered his heartfelt thanks to all the members
for their deportment towards him during the ex
citing scenes of the session. lie hoped the acts
passed by them would redound to the credit and
honor of the country.
Thus terminate the session and the labors of l
your reporter.
The Capitol is fast clearing of its crowds, and
a great many of the members leave this afternoon
for their homes.
[SECOND DESPATCH.]
Rills Defeated and Dille Paned.
WASHINGTON, March 4.
The most important business of the last day of
the session may be summed up as follows:
SILLS DEFEATED.
The French Spoliation Bill.
The River and Harbor Appropriation Bill.
The Fortification Appropriation Bill.
The Bill making Gen. Scott &Lieutenant Gen•
and.
DILLS PASSED.
The Bill for reducing the rates of postage.
The Post Office Appropriation Bill.
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill.
The Army and Navy Appropriation Bills.
The Bill establishing new Post Routes.
Gen. Scott in the West.
The Indiana State Journal thus speaks of the
Whig meeting held recently at Indinanolis, which
nominated Gen. Scott as a candidate for the Pres
idency
The Whig Meeting on Saturday night. It has
been our good fortune to have been present at
every Whig meeting at the Capital for the last
fifteen years, and to have witnessed that animated
zeal which gave the vote of the State and" of the
Union to Gen. Harrison. But at none of these
meeting have we ever seen so much enthusiasm—
so much of that confidence which impels onward
to success, Although but a preliminary meeting,
the knowledge of which wee almost entirely limit
ed to this city, yet, in numbers, it was more of a
mass meeting; and, in enthusiasm, it had all of
zeal and devotion to the Whig party, and to the
integrity of its organization, and to General Scott,
that, in past times, characterized our State meet- I
logs, after the nomination of Gen. Harrison. And
the object of this devotion is worthy of it all—that
m., who, in the frozen North, and in the sunny
South, battled for the whole country, who has
known in his long years of hard service, no sec
tional interest "nothing but the Union." As
most eloquently said of him by one of the speak
ers, wherever the flag of his country has been un
folded beibre the enemy, there has been his home !
wherever the Union has needed his services, there
has lie hastened.
The Whigs of Indiana know that to his hands
they can safely confide that Union he has covered
with the glory of his well fought battles ; they
know that no other political organization can be
formed which can embrace more of devotion to
that Union, or more of fixed determination to pre
serve its integrity.
Interesting from Texas.
Slave Stampede Detected.—lndians Punished, &c.
We have received files of Galveston papers to the
22nd init.
A deep laid plot was discovered among the
nc
groes in and around Brenham, to rise in a body
and escape into Mexico. Several white men,
who are supposed to have concocted the arrange
ment, have made their escape, and a party of the
citizens of Brenham are in pursuit of them.
We learn from the San Antonio Ledger that two
' engagements had recently taken place between
the Indians on the frontier and the United States
troops. In the neighborhood of Loredo the sava
ges made their appearance, and after committing
various depredations, were encountered by Lieu
tenant Walker, of Ford's Rangers. Twe men
were killed and two mortally wouned. Lieuten
ant W. retook 75 mules and horses, and a young
Mexican captive, who had been with them two
day. On the next day, Lieutenant Burleson had
la fight with 15 more of the Indians, killing three
of them, and suffering a loss of one elan /anodised
riv watm4.4, kitsesOf imelrylsvi
NeW Postage taw.
We publish below the entire bill reducing the
postage on letters. &c., as it finally passed both
Houses of Congress.
Persons residing in'ehe county will see by the
second section of this art, that from and after the
thirtieth day of June next', f 7151, they will be
entitled to receive the " Ildiningdon Journal"
free tof postage. Congress deemed it important
that citizens should patronise their own county
papers, hence the provision in their favor. We
hope now to see the subscription lists of the county
papers largely increased, our own cipecially, as it
will enable us to serve our subscribers with a still
more interesting paper.
AN ACT to reduce and modify the rate of Postage
in the United States, end for other purpomet
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives el the (faded States of America in Con-
Wress assembled. That, from the thirtieth day of
June, eighteen hundred and fifty one, in lieu of the
rates of postage now established by law, there
shall be charged the following rates, to wit For
every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any
kind upon which information shall be asked for, or
communicated in writing, or by marks or signs.
conveyed in the mail, for any distance between
places within the 'United States nut exceeding three
thousand miles, when the postage upon such letter
shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents
when the postage thereon shall not have been pre
paid ; and for any distance exceeding three thou
sand miles, double these rates for every such sin
gle letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in
part by sea, and to or from a foreign country, for
any distance over twenty-five hundered, twenty
cents, and fur any distance under twenty five hun
dred miles, ten cents, (excepting, however, all
eases where such postage have been or shall be
adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or con
vention, already concluded or hereafter to be
made ;) and fur a double letter, there shall be
charged double the rates above specified; and for
a treble letter, treble those rates; and for a quad
ruple letter, quadruple those rates; and every
letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in
weight, shall be deemed a single letter; and every
additional weight of half an ounce, or additional
weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged
with an additional single postage. And all drop
letters, or letters placed in any post office, not for
transmission, but for delivery only, shall be charged
with postage at the rate of one cent each ; and ell
letters shall hereafter be advertised as remaining
over or uncalled for in any post office, shall be
charged with one cent in addition to the regular
postage, both to be accounted for as other postage::
now are.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all news
papers not exceeding three ounces in weight, sent
from the office of publication to actual and bona
fide subscribers, shall be charged with postage as
follows, to wit : All newspapers published weekly
only, shall circulate in the mail free of postage
within the county where published and that the
postage on the regular number of a newspaper pub
lished weekly, for any distance not exceeding fifty
miles out of the county where published, shall be
five cents per quarter for any distance exceeding
fifty miles, and not exceeding three hundred miles,
ten cents per quarter; for any distance exceeding
three hundred miles and not exceeding one thou
sand, fifteen cents per quarter; for any distance
exceeding one thousand miles and not exceeding
two thousand miles, twenty cents per quarter; for
any distance exceeding two thousand miles and
not exceeding four thousand miles, twenty-five
cents per quarter; and for any distance exceeding.
four thousand miles, thirty cents per quarter; and
all newspapers published monthly, and scut to nc
twal and bona fide subscribers, shall be charged
with one-fourth the foregoing rates; and on all
such newspapers published semi-monthly shall be
charged wish one-half the foregoing rates ; and pa
pers published semi-weekly shall be charged dou
ble those rates; tai-weekly, treble those rates ; and
oftener than tai-weekly, Bice times those rates.
And there shall be charged upon every other news
paper, and each circular not sealed, handbill, en
graving, pamphlet, periodical, magazine, book,
and every other description of printed matter,
which shall be unconnected with any manuscript,
or written matter, and which it may be lawful to'
transmit through the mail, of no greater weight
than one ounce, for any distance not exceeding five
hundred miles, ono cent; and for each additional
ounce, or fraction of an ounce, one cent; for any
distance exceeding five hundred miles and not ex
ceediug one thousand five hundred miles, double
those rates; for any distance exceeding one thou
sand five hundred miles and not exceeding two
thousand five hundred miles, treble those rates ; for
any distance exceeding two thousand five hundred
miles and not exceeding three thousand five hun
dred miles, four times those rates ; for any distance
exceeds three thousand five hundred miles, five
times trine rates. Subscribers to all periodicals
shall be required to pay one quarter's postage in
advance ; in all such cases the postage shall be one
half the foregoing rates. Bound books, and par
cels of printed matter not weighing over thirty
two ounces, shall he deemed mailable matter un
der the provisions of this section. And the postage
on all printed matter other than newspapers and
periodicals published at intervals, not exceeding
three months, and sent front the office of pultiita
,
thin to actual and bona fide subscribers, to be pre
paid; and su aseertainim-, the weight of newspa
pers fur the purpose of tictermitting the amount of
postage chargeable thereon, the ; shall be weighed
when in a dry state. And whenever any printed
matter on which the postage is required by this
section to be prepaid shall, through the inattention
of postmasters, or otherwise, he sent without pre
payment, the same shall be charged with double
the amount of postage which would have been
chargeable thereon if the postage had been pre
paid; but nothing in this act contained shall subject
to postage any mutter which is exempted from
the payment of postage by any existing law. And
the Postmaster General, by and a ith the advice
and consent of the President of the United States,
shall be and he is hereby authorized to reduce or
enlarge, froni time to time, the rates of postage ,
upon all letters and other mailable matter conveyed
between the United States and any foreign country,
fur the purpose of snaking better 1 octal arrange
ment with other governments, or counteracting
any adverse measures affecting our postal inter-;
4,nime with f.rviga wmtuvisw laadpostmeaterae at ,
the office of delivery are hereby authorized, and it
shall be their duty, to remove wrappers and enve
lopes from all printed mutter and pamphlets nut
charged with letter postage, for the purpose of as
certaining whether there is upon or connected with
any inch printed matter or in such package any
matter or thing which would authorize or require
the charge of It higher rate postage thereon. And
all publishers of pamphlets, periodicals, magazines
and newspapers which shall not exceed sixteen
ounces in weight, shall be allowed to interchange
their pnblieatons reciprocally free of pnetnge: Pro
tided. That such interchange slialibe cOnfiued to
a single copy of each publication : And prodded,
also. That said publishers may enclose in their
publications the bills for subscriptiuns thereto
without soy additional charge for postage And'
proddedfirther, That in all cases where news
papers shall not contain over three hundred squere
inches they traty be transmitted through the :nails
by the publishers to bona fide subscribers at outs
fourth the rates fixed by this act.
Sec. 3. And be it further ensiled, That it shall
ho th- ditty oft! e Postmaster General to provide
and f t nish to ell deputy postmasters, and to alb
other persons applying .nd poring thererer, suita
ble postage stamps of the denominatioaa of three
cents, and of such other denominations as lie may
think expedient to facilitate the prepayment of the
postages pruvided for in this act, and any person
who shall forge or counterfeit any postage stamp
provided or furnished un d er the 1.1 . 0V14011S of this
or any fur:nutlet, whether the Mille lie impressed or
printed on or attached to envelopes or net, or any
die, plate. or engraving there:6r, or shall make or
print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his pos
session with intent to ace or sell, any slice false,
thrged, or counterfeited die, plate, engraving, or
postage stamp, or who shall make or print, or au
thorize or procure to be made or printed, any post
age stumps of the kind provided and furnished by
the Postmaster General as aforesaid, without the
especial authority and direction of the Post Office.
Department. or who, after such postage stamps
have been printed shall with intent to defraud the
revenues of the Post Office Department, deliver
any postage stamps to any perste) or persons other
than such as shall he authorized to receive tLo
same by an instrument of writing duly executed
under the hand of the Postmaster General, and the
seal of the Post Office Department, shall on eon
viction therof, he deemed guilty of felony, and he
punished by a fine nut exceedieg five hundred dol
lars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years,
or by both such tine and imprisonment, and the
expenses of procuring and providing all such pelt
age stamps and letter envelopes, as are provided
for or authorized by this act, shall be paid, after
being adjusted by the auditor of the Post Office
.Department, or the certificate of the Postmaster
General, out of any money in the Treasury arising
from the Post Office Department.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of every postmaster to cause to be de
faced, in such manner as the Postmaster General
shall direct, all postage stumps attached to letters
deposited in his office for delivery, or to be sent
by mail; and if any posttuaster, sending letters in
the nail with postage stamps attached, shall omit
to deface the same, it shall be the duty ofthe post
toaster to whose office such letters shall be sent fur
delivery to deface the stamps and report the delin
quent postmaster to the Postmaster General. Aud
if any person shall use, or attempt to use, in pm
payment of postage, any postage stamp which shall
have been before used for like purposes, such per
sons shall be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars
for every such offence, to be recovered in the name
of the United States, in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
SEC. 5. And be it fute.er enacted, That lists of
letters remaining uncalled for in any post office in
any city, town, or village, where a ne , per shall
be printed, shall hereafter be publis:.ed vuee only
in the newspaper which, being issued• weekly or
oftener, shall have the largest ciren.,im srlthin
the range of delivery of said office, to be de.. idea.
by the Post Master General, under suck rebulations
as shall be prescribed by him, at a charge not ex
ceeding one [three] at such office, at such time,
and under such regulations as the Postmaste Gen
eral shall prescribe; and at a charge of one cent
for each letter advertised. And the postmaster at
suds office is hereby directed to post in a conspic
uous pla..e its his office a copy of such list, on the
day or day after the publication thereof; and if
the rublisher of any such paper shall refuse to pub
lish the list of letters as provided in this section,
the postmaster may designate some other paper fur
such purpose. Such lists of letters shall be pub
lished once in every six weeks and us much often
er, not exceeding once a week, as the Postmaster
General may specially direct: Prcrided lbat the
Postmaster General may, in his discription, :Sheet
the publication of German and ut..er fuseign let
ters in soy newspaper printed its tl.e Germais or
any other foreign language, which publieutiuu shall
be in lieu of ur in uddition to tie publieutiun of
the list of such letters in the manner first in this
section provided, as the Postmaster General shall
direct.
Sec. G. And be it further enacted, That to any
postmaster whose commissions may be reduced be
time the amount allowed at his °thee for tl.e year
ending the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred
and fifty-one, and whose lohores may he increa
sed the Postmaster General shall be authorized,
in hi discretion, to allow such additional commis
sinus as he nay deem just and proper: Provided,
That the whole amount of commissions allowed
such postmaster during the fiscal yearshall nut ex
ceed hy more than t weyy per cent. t!,, amount of
commissions at swell office fur the year ending the
thirteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and tifty
one.
Sue. 7. And be it further enacted, That no post
office now in existence shall be discontinued, nor
' shall the mail service on any mail route in sly of
the States or Territories be discontinued or
diwin
ished,in consequence of any diminution of the re
venues that may result from this IRA ; and it shall.
be the duty of the Postmaster General to establish
new post offices, and place the mail service un any
now mail routes established, or that may hereafter
be established, in the same manner as though this
act had not passed: Andl melded further, (TI et
the compensation of nu postmaster sledl be dimin
ished in consequence of the passage of this act.]
Sic. 8. And he it further enacted, 'list there
shall he paid to tkl► Yost Wilke Departzmont, is