Shreveport daily news., 1861-08-02
provided or furnished under the pro-

PrOVlOCO or furnlSnCO u0ucT the pro-
visions Of this or any former act,
whether the same are impressed or
printed on or attached to envelopes sor
not, or any dies, plate or engraving
therefor, or shall make, or print, or
knowingly use or sell or have in pos
session, with intent to use or sell, any
such false, forged or countcrfeited
dies, plate, engraving or postage
stamp, or who shall make, or print, or
authorize, or procure to be made or
printed, any pastage stamps OF the
kind provided and furnished by the
Postmaster Generalas aforesaid, with
out the especial authority and direc-
ton OF the Postotiice Department, or
who, after such postage stamps have
been printed, shall, with intent to de-
fraud TIE revenues Of the Postoificc
Department deliver any postage
stamps to any person or persons other
than such as shall be authorized to
receive the same by any instrument
Of writing, duly executed under the
hand cf the Postmaster General and
the seal OF the Postotiice Department
shall, on conviction thereof be deemed
guilty of felony, and be punished by
fine not exceeding $500, or by i'm
prisonrncnt not exceeding five years,
or by both such fine and imprison
ment =; and the expenses of procuring
and providing all such postage stamps
and letter envelopes As are provided
for or authorized by this act, shall be
paid after being adjusted by the Au-
ditor Of the Postotiice Department on
the certificate Of the Postmaster Gen
cral out Of any money IN the Treasury
arising from the revenues Of the Post
office Department.
"Scc 4. Iud be It ,furthcr Enacted.
That it shall he the duty of every
Postmaster to cause TO be dctacrd in
such manner rs the Postmaster Gen
eral shall direct, all postage stamps
Of this Contc,lrracv to letters tlep"s-
tied in his office tnr delivery or to be-
sent hv mail; and fanv Postmaster
sending letters in the mail with such
postage stamps attached shall omit
10 detace the same, ii shall be the
! duty of the Postmaster to whose
office such letters shall be sent for
delivery, 10 deface the stamps and re-
port the delinquent POSTING -ter to the
Postmaster General. AND if any per
son shall use, or attcmp' to use, in
prepayment Of postage. any postage
stamps which shall ha' been before
used for like purposes, such persons
shall be subject to apcnaltv Of fifty
dollars for every such "!trnS". t" be
recovered in the name OF the Contrd-
crate States of America III any court
Of competent jurisdiction.
"Sec ;. and he II f"rfhrr' ~mGrtcd,
That from and after thc day when
this act goes into effect, the
fr;nking privilege shall be abolished:
prurt9cd, that the Postmaster Gener-
al and his chief clerks, and the Audi
tor Of the Treasury for the Post"flicc
department shall he and they are
hereby authorized to transni,
through the mails, free of postage,
any letters, packages, on other mat
tiers relating exclusively to their otli-
cial duties. or To the business of the
PostoIfice Department; hut they
shall in every such case endorse o,.
the back of the letter or packages to
be sent free Of postage over their own
Signatures, the words, Official bust
ness, 'aud for any such endorsement
falsely made, the person so offending
shall forfeit and pay taxes $500; and
proradea further, the several Depuy-
Postmasters throughout the Confeder-
ate Shall shall be and hereby are au-
thorized to send through the mails
free Of postage all letters and pack
ages which it may be their duty. or
they may have occasion to transmit
to any person or place, and which