Washington telegraph., 1851-07-02
Regulations Concerning Postage stamps.

postmaster General, pursuant to the Sd section of
.he ACT to reduce and modify the rates Of postage
IN tne United States, and Tor other purposes" ap-
proved March Sd, 1851, VIZ:
No. l, printed in black, representing the he ad of
w asihngton, Of the denomination OF twelve cents.
NO z, printed in red, representing the head of
w ashIngton in profile, OF the denominations of three
cents.
No. 3, printed in blue, representing the head of
Franklin, IN profile, OF the denomn alton of one
cent
These stamps will be furnished to one or more
OF the principal postmasters in each county, who
VIII be required to supply the other postmasters
IN Their respective vicinIties upon being paid for
the dmoumts furnished.
All other persons wishing supplies of stamps can
OBTAIN them from the postmaster al the county
seat nearest his residence, lIom the postmaster
oil any other office having them for sale.
Fostmasters purchasing stamps from other post
masters are not required 10 render to the Depart
ment any account of the stamps purchased and
sold by them.
Every postmaster receiving stamps for sale d.
rectIy from tine Department will, at the end of
each quarter, charge himself in his quarterly ac-
count current with any amount of stamps which
remained on hand at the close OF the preceding
quarter, adding thereto the amounts received dur
lug the quarter just ended, and credIntg himself f
with the amount remaining on hand. The balance
of the ccount stated will represent the
of stamps sold, which must be added on his quar-
terly account current to the amount due on the
regular return of postages for the quarter.
In OF resignation, removal or death, the
postmaster or his representa- will not be allow
ed credit for any stamps returned over to his sue
cessor, unless such successor have duly qualified
by giving bond, nor unless his receirt Tor The
amount shall be forthwith transmitted to the Audi
tor for the Post Office Department.
Amy letter packet with or more postage
stamps affixed equal in amount TO the postage
properly chargeabie thereon, may be mailed and
forwarded from any post office as a prepaid letter
or packet; but if the postage stamps affixed be
not adequate TO the proper postage the postmaster
mailing the letter or packet viii admit the pre-
payment of many rates as the stamps upon
II represent, and charge the excess with postage
at The unpaid rate to be collected at the office of
delivery.
All postage stamps affixed to any letter, packet,
or parcel or any description, must be immediately
and etectunuy cancelled IN the office in which the
letter, packet, parcel may be deposited tor de-
livery o. TRANSMISSION.
AT The larger offices they will be cancelled, by
an instrument 10 be furnished by the Department.
An post offices not SO furnished; the stamps must
be thoroughly cancelled by making several heavy
cross or parallel lines upon each oi them with a
pen dipped good black INK. The canceILing in
strunent should be used Uifh black printerS' ink,
If the cano cling have been omitted on the mail
ing o the letter, packet, parcel, if the can
ceildlien b: incomplete, the postmaster at the office
OF delivery will cancel the stamps IN the mapner
directed, and forthwith report the delinquent post
master to the Postmaster General the law
quIres.
Letters, packets, and parcels chargeabIe with
letter postage, which shall have been prepaid by
stamps, will be entered Oh the post-bls, and also
m he nj of lt p.8tlS we'd
in the appropriate columns, headed prepaid by
stamps"
The postage on newspapers, magazines, and
pamphlets, prepaid by stamps, must in like manner
be entered on the proper transcript or account of
newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and other
printed matter, in the columns headed ''prepaid by
stamps"
The Department win furnish blanks suitable for
keeping accounts of unpaid printed matter receiv-
ed oil prepaid printed matter sent IN the mails.
The amount of stamp letters sent Will. in the
computation OF the postmasters commissions. and
for tint purpose only, be added 10 the amount OF
post ages received, aud commissions will be charg
ed aud allowed thereon If the postage on the
letters had been prepaid in money instead of
stamps.
The postmaster will charge his commission on
the amount OF postage on newspape RS, magazines,
and pamphlets, aud all other printed matter pre-
paid BY stamps, as if the same had been prepaid
money
All postage stamps whether attached to letters,
packets, parcels chsrgeabe with letter postage,
or to newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, or other
printed matter, mus: be carefully entered by the
postmaster in the appropriate columns of the
transcript belonging to his quarterly returns, that
the Department may know the quantity OF stamps
used in the mails and cancelled.
A postmaster may not refuse to mail and forward
a letter as prepaid because the stamp upon it was
not purchased at his office. Ifthe stamp be genu
inc, and have not been used before in prepayment,
il must be respected.
Postage stamps may be used in the prepayment
of postage letters to foreign countries, ln all
cases where such prepaymen. can be made in
mouey.
When letters TO foreign countries are prepaid by
stamps, the mailiRg postmaster should cancel the
stamps aud be carefulto rate and mark the letters
with red ink, as if prepaid IN money.
The 3D. section OF the ''act to reduce and modify
the rates of postage" &c, approved Sd March.
1851, makes it felony for any person to forge,
counterfeit, Knowingly use or sell, or have in
his possession with intent to use sell, any postage
stamp provided or furnished under that or any for
mer act, aud declares that, on conviction thereof,
he offe nder shall be punished by fine not exceed
ing five hundred dollars, or by Imprisonment not
exceeding five years, or by both such fine and inn
prsunment. And the 4th section OF SAID act de-
clares that if any rerson shall use, or attempt to
use, in prepayment of postage, any postage stamp
which shall have been before used for like purposes
such person shall be subject to a penalty OF fifty
dollars lor every such offence, TO be recovered ia
tho of the United S.siee ia any court of
Jurisdictions
The Law. makes no compe nsation to postmasters
for the sale of postage stamps, except though the
of commissions such used at
their offices Neither does it allow any discount
to these who purchase.
Application by postmasters for postage stamps
must be made to the Third Nssistan Postmaster
General TO whom the receipts for them should be
promptly transmitted.
n. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
MISSISSIPPI NoMlNATIoNS.-W learn