The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-05-31
A Proclamation.
by Tue POSTMASTER GENERAL OF THE coSFEp
ERATE STATES or AMERICA.

| BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL OF THE CoNFEp-
ERATE STATES or AMERICA.
WHEREAS, by the provisions of an act
approved March Il, 1861, and amended
by the first section of an act approved
May 9th. 1861. the Postmaster General
OF the Confederate States sis authorized.
on and after day to he named by him
for that purpose, to take the entire charge
and direction OF the postal service in the
Confederate States" and all CONVEYANCE
of mails within their limits from and af.
ter such day, except by authority of the
Postmaster General thereof, is hereby
prohibited:
Now. therefore, I, John II. Reagan.
Postmaster General Of the Confederate
States OF America, do issue this my pro.
clamation. notifying all Postmasters,
Contractors, and Special and Route
Agents in the service Of the Post Office
Departmentsana onSasadA- salra isans-
mission and delivery OF the mails. or
otherwise in any manner connected with
the service within the limits of the Con-
federate States of America, that on and
after the lst day of June next. shall
assume the entire control and direction
of The postal service therein:
And | hereby direct all Postmasters
Route and Special Agents within these
States and now acting under the authori-
ty and direction of the Postmaster Cen
eral of the United States, to continue in
the discharge of their respective duties
under the authority vested in me by the
Congress Of the Confederate States, in
strict conformity with such existing laws
and regulation as are not inconsistent
with the laws and Constitution of the
Confederate States of America. and such,
further instructions as may hereafter be
issued by my direction, and said Post
masters, Route Agents and Special
Agents are also required to forward to
this Department, without delay, their
names, with the names of the offices OF
which they are Postmaster, giving the
State and County to be directed to the
Chief of the Appointment Bureau,
Postoflice Department Montgomery, Ala
bama," il order that new commissions
may be issued under the authority of
this Governments: And all Postmasters
are hereby required to render to the Post.
Office Department at Washington. D. c.,
their final accounts and vouchers for pos
tai receiptsand expenditures, up to the
3lst day of this month, taking care to
forward with said accounts all postage
stamps and stamped envelopes, remain
ing on hand, belonging to the Postotiice
Department OF tho United States, in or
der that they may receive the proper
credits therefor in the adjustment Of
their accounts; and they are further re-
quired to retain in their possession. to
meet the orders of the Posrmastmaster
General Of the United States, for the
payment OF mail service within the Con
lederate States, all revenue which shall
have accrued from. the postal service
prior to the said Isl day of June next.
All Contractors, Mail Messengers, and
Special Contractors for oonveving the
mails within the CentedesA Macy. aa
der EXISTING contracts witi't Govern
ment OF the United States, are hereby
authorized TO continue to perform such
service under my direction, from and af-
ter the day last above named, subject to
such notifications and changes as may
be tourd necessary. under the power YES
ted in the Post Master General bY the
terms Of said contracts and the provisions
of the second section of an act approved
May 9th 1861, coniormablo thereto:-
And the said Contractors, Special Con.
tractors, and Mail Messengers, are re-
Quired to forward, without delay, the
number Of their route or routes, the ma
ture of the service thereon, the schedules
Of arrivals and departures, the names of
the offices supplied, and the amount of
annual compensation for present service,
together with their address. directed to
the "Chief of the Contract Bureau, Post
Office Department, Montgomery, Ala
bama."
Until n postal treaty shall be made
with the Government of the United
States for the exchange of mails between
that Government and the Government Of
this Conlederacy, Post-Masters will not
be authorized to collect United States
postage on mail matter sent to or re-
ceived from those States; aud until sup
plies of postage stamps and stamped en-
velopes are procured for the prepayment
Of postage within the Confederate STATES.
all postage must be paid in money under
the provisions Of the first section OF un
act approved March lst, 1861.
Given under my hand and the seal of
- the Post Office Department of
I l.. 5. the Confederate States OF Amer
- lea, at Montgomery Alabama,
the 18th day Of May in the year 1861.
JOHN II. REAGAN,
Post-Masier General.