Letter carriers employed at such post offices as the Postmaster General may direct, were allowed to collect 2 cents for each letter they delivered. For letters lodged at the post office by direction of the individual, the postmaster was to receive 1 cent; newspapers and pamphlets ½ cent; letters received by carrier for deposit in a post office, 2 cents, to be paid to the postmaster for a fund for compensation of carriers. This was known as the “penny post” and was in vogue until the day of free delivery. * * * * * Section 38, Act of March 3, 1825, provided that: Any person confined in jail on any judgment in a civil case obtained in behalf of the Post Office Department, who makes affidavit that he has a claim against the General Post Office, not allowed by the Postmaster General, and shall specify such claim in the affidavit, that he could not be prepared for trial by lack of evidence, the court being satisfied in those respects, may be granted a continuance by the court until the next term, and the Postmaster General authorized to have such party discharged from imprisonment if he has no property, of any description, but such release shall not bar a subsequent execution against the property of the defendant. * * * * * A postmaster was not allowed to receive free of postage, or frank any letter or packet, composed of, or containing anything other than paper or money. (Sec. 36; Act of July 2, 1836.) * * * * * According to the Postal Laws and Regulations of 1843, only a free white person could carry the mail and any contractor who employed or permitted any other than a free white person to convey mail was subject to a penalty of $20. * * * * * At post offices where the mail arrived between 9.00 o’clock at night and 5.00 in the morning, the postmaster was allowed a commission not to exceed 50 per cent on the first $100 collected in any one quarter (Act of March 3, 1825), but the commission was afterwards increased to 70 per cent. (Act of June 22, 1854.) No allowance on this account was, however, to be made unless accompanied by a certificate signed by postmaster upon a prescribed form. * * * * * Post riders and other carriers of mail collecting way letters on which postage had been paid, were allowed 1 cent each for such service by the postmaster when such letters were delivered at the post office. * * * * * “Express mail service” could be established by the Postmaster General if deemed expedient, for the purpose of conveying slips from newspapers in lieu of exchanges, or letters, except such as contained money, not exceeding ½ ounce in weight, and public dispatches, marked as above, at triple rates of postage. * * * * *