(ACT of April 30th, 1810.)

be appointed, and arrive at the general post office, to perform the business.

2. SEC. II. The postmaster general, and all other persons employed in the general post office, or in the care, custody, or conveyance, of the mail, shall, previous to entering upon the duties assigned to them, or the execution of their trusts, and before they shall be entitled to receive any emolument therefor, respectively, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, before some magistrate, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the general post office: "I, A B, do swear, or affirm (as the case may be,) that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the laws in relation to the establishment of the post office and post roads within the United States." Every person who shall be in any manner employed in the care, custody, conveyance, or management, of the mail, shall be subject to all pains, penalties, and forfeitures, for violating the injunctions, or neglecting the duties required of him, by the laws relating to the establishment of the post office and post roads, whether such person shall have taken the oath or affirmation above prescribed or not.

3. SEC. it. It shall be lawful for the postmaster general to provide, by contract, for the carriage of the mail, on any road on which a stage wagon or other stage carriage shall be established, on condition that the expense thereof shall not exceed the revenue thence arising. It shall also be lawful for the postmaster general to enter into contracts, for a term not exceeding eight years, for extending the line of posts, and to authorise the persons so contracting, as a compensation for their expenses, to receive, during the continuance of such contracts, at rates not exceeding those for like distances established by this act, all the postage which shall arise on letters, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and packets, conveyed by any such post; and the roads designated in such contracts shall, during the continuance thereof, be deemed and considered as post roads within the provision of this act: And a duplicate of every such contract shall, within sixty days after the execution thereof, be lodged in the office of the comptroller of the treasury of the United States.

4. SEC. IV. No other than a free white person shall be employed in carrying the mail of the United States, on any of the post roads, either as a post rider or driver of a carriage carrying the mail; and every contractor or person who shall have stipulated, or may hereafter stipulate, to carry the mail, or whose duty it shall be to cause the same to be conveyed on any of the post roads as aforesaid, and who shall, contrary to this act, employ any other than a free white person as a post rider or driver, or in any other way to carry the mail on the same, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay the sum of fifty dollars; one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other moiety thereof to the per

(ACT of April 30th, 1810.)

son who shall sue for and prosecute the same before any court having competent jurisdiction thereof.

5. SEC. v. The postmaster general shall be authorised to allow the postmasters at the several distributing offices such compensation as shall be adequate to their several services in that respect: Provided, That the same shall not exceed, in the whole, five per cent. on the whole amount of postages on letters and newspapers received for distribution: Provided also, That if the number of mails received at, and despatched from, any such office, is not actually increased by the distributing system, then no additional allowance shall be made to the postmaster.

6. SEC. VI. Whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the postmaster general, that any road established, or which may hereafter be established, as a post road, is obstructed by fences, gates, or bars, or other than those lawfully used on turnpike roads to collect their toll, and not kept in good repair, with proper bridges and ferries where the same may be necessary, it shall be the duty of the postmaster general to report the same to congress, with such information as can be obtained, to enable congress to establish some other road instead of it in the same main direction.

7. SEC. VII. If any person shall, knowingly and wilfully, obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or of any driver or carrier, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: And if any ferryman shall, by wilful negligence, or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the same, he shall forfeit and pay, for each ten minutes that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.

8. SEC. vi. It shall be the duty of the postmaster general to give public notice, in one or more of the newspapers published at the seat of government of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state or states or territory where the contract is to be performed, for at least six weeks before entering into any contract for carrying the mail, that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it is to be concluded, describing the places from and to which such mail is to be conveyed, the time at which it is to be made up, and the day and hour at which it is to be delivered. He shall, moreover, within ninety days after the making of any contract, lodge a duplicate thereof, together with the proposals which he shall have received respecting it, in the office of the comptroller of the treasury of the United States: Provided, That no contract shall be entered into for a longer term than four years.

9. SEC. Ix. Every postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend on every day on which a mail, or bag, or other packet or parcel, of letters shall arrive, by land or water, as well as on other days, at such hours as the postmaster general shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties

(ACT of April 30th, 1810.)

thereof; and it shall be the duty of the postmaster, at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper, or packet, to the person entitled to, or authorised to receive the same; and all letters brought to any post office half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office, shall be forwarded therein; except at such post offices where, in the opinion of the postmaster general, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe; but this shall in no case exceed one hour.

10. SEC. x. No fees or perquisites shall be received by any person employed in the general post office, on account of the duties to be performed by virtue of his appointment.

11. SEC. XII. Every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, shall be charged with six cents, if delivered at the post office where the same shall arrive; and if destined to be conveyed by post to any other place, with two cents added to the ordinary rates of postage.

12. SEc. x. If any postmaster, or other person authorised by the postmaster general, to receive the postage of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or gratuity or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof he shall forfeit, for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be rendered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the government of the United States.

13. SEC. XIV. No ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United States, where a post office is established, shall be permit ted to report, make entry, or break bulk, until the master or com mander shall have delivered to the postmaster all letters directed to any person or persons within the United States, or the territories thereof, which, under his care, or within his power, shall be brought in such ship or vessel, except such as are directed to the owner or consignee of the ship or vessel, and except also such as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery to which such ship or vessel may be bound. And it shall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port, empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require, from every master or commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid. And if any commander or master of any ship or vessel shall break bulk before he shall have complied with the requirements of this act, every such offender shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.

SEC. XV. The postmasters to whom such letters may be delivered, shall pay, to the master or commander, or other person delivering the same, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for each letter or packet, and shall obtain, from the person delivering the same, a certificate, specifying the number of letters

(ACT of April 30th, 1810.)

and packets, with the name of the ship or vessel, and the place from whence she last sailed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, shall be, with his quarterly accounts, transmitted to the postmaster general, who shall credit him with the

amount.

14. SEC. XVI. If any person, other than the postmaster general, or his deputies, or persons by them employed, shall be concerned in setting up, or maintaining, any foot or horse post, stage wagon, or other stage carriage, or sleigh, on any established post road, or from one post town to another post town, on any road adjacent or parallel to an established post road, or any packet boat or other vessel to ply regularly from one place to another, between which a regular communication by water shall be established by the United States, and shall receive any letter or packet, other than newspapers, magazines, or pamphlets, and carry the same by such foot or horse post, stage wagon, or other stage carriage, or sleigh, packet boat or vessel, (excepting only such letter or letters as may be directed to the owner or owners of such conveyance, and relating to the same, or to the person to whom any packet or bundle in such conveyance is intended to be delivered) every person so offending shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of fifty dolJars: Provided, That it shall be lawful for any person to send letters or packets by a special messenger.

15. SEC. XVII. The deputy postmasters, and other agents of the postmaster general, shall duly account and answer to him, for all way letters which shall come to their hands; and, for this purpose, the post riders, and other carriers of the mail, receiving any way letter or letters (and it shall be their duty to receive them, if presented more than two miles from a post office) shall deliver the same, together with the postage, if paid, at the first post office to which they shall afterwards arrive, where the postmaster shall duly enter the same, and specify the number, and rate or rates, in the post bill, adding to the rate of each way letter one cent, which shall be paid by the postmaster to the mail carrier from whom such way letters shall be received. And that letters directed to persons living between post offices may be delivered, and the postage thereof duly collected, it shall be the duty of the carriers of the mail to take charge of, and deliver, all such letters as shall, for that purpose, be committed to them by any postmaster, and collect the postage thereof, which shall be paid over to such postmaster on demand. And for every letter so delivered, the mail carrier delivering the same shall be allowed to demand and receive two cents to his own use, besides the ordinary postage. And if any postmaster, or other agent of the postmaster general, shall neglect so to account, he or they so offending shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars: Provided, That no mail carrier shall make such deliveries at any place not on the post road: Provided also, That the receipt and delivery of letters on the way, between post offices, shall not

(ACT of April 30th, 1810.)

be required of the mail carriers, in cases where, in the opinion of the postmaster general, the time or manner of carrying the mail, or the speed of conveyance, is incompatible with such receipts and deliveries.

16. SEC. XVIII. If any person, employed in any of the departments of the general post office, shall unlawfully detain, delay, or open, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he shall be intrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and which are intended to be conveyed by post, or if any such person shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any letter or packet intrusted to him as aforesaid, and which shall not contain any security for, or assurance relating to, money, as hereinafter described, every such offender, being thereof duly convicted, shall, for every such offence, be fined, not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence. And if any person, employed as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he shall be intrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank note or bank post bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the treasury of the United States, note of assignment of stock in the funds, letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stock in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for or relating to payment of moneys, or any bond or warrant, draft, bill, or promissory note, covenant, contract, or agreement, whatsoever, for or relating to the payment of money, or the delivery of any article of value, or the performance of any act, matter, or thing, or any receipt, release, acquittance, or discharge, of or from any debt, covenant, or demand, or any part thereof, or any copy of any record of any judgment or decree, in any court of law or chancery, or any execution which may have issued thereon, or any copy of any other record, or any other article of value, or any writing representing the same, or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same out of any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, that shall come to his possession, he shall, on conviction, for any such offence be imprisoned not exceeding ten years. And if any person who shall have taken charge of the mail of the United States shall quit or desert the same, before he delivers it into the post office kept at the termination of his route, or to some known mail carrier, or agent of the general post office authorised to receive the same, every such person, so offending, shall forfeit and pay a sum, not exceeding five hundred dollars, for every such offence. And if any person concerned in carrying the mail of the United States shall collect, receive, or carry, any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.