The Van Buren press., 1861-06-05
a Proclamation.


p.,ls Pas, Master General of the Confederate States
wurrrAs. By the provisions of an act,
annroyed March 18th, 1861, and amended
by the first section of an act approved May
9th. 1861. the Postmaster General OF the
Confederate States, "is authorized, on and
after a day to be named by him for that
purpose. to take the entire charge and di-
rection of the postal service in the Conied-
crate States," and all conveyance of mails
within their limits, from and after such day
except by authority of the Postmaster Gen
eral thereof, is thereby prohibited
Now, therefore, /, John II Reagan. Post
Master General of the Confederate States
of America, do issue this my proclamation
notifying all postmasters, contractors and
special and route agents IN the service oi
the post office department, and engaged III
the transmission of the mails, or otherwise
in any manner connected with the service
within the limits of the Confederate States
of America that on and after the lst day
of June next, shall assume the entire con-
troll of the postal service therein. And
hereby direct all postmasters, route aud
special agents within these States, and now
acting under the authority and direction OF
the Postmaster General of the United States
to continue in the discharge of their vari-
GUS duties under the authority vested in me
by the Congress OF the Confederate States !,
| in strict conformity with such existing law S
and regulations as are not inconsistent with
the laws and Constitution of the Confeder-
ate States of America, and such further in
structions as may hereafter be issued by my
direction. And the said postmasters, route
agents and special agents are also required
to forward to this department. without de-
lay, their names, with the names of the Of
fees of which they are postmasters, (giving
the State and County, to he directed to the
"Chief of the Appointment Bureau, Post
Office Department, Montgomery. Alaba-
ma," in order that new commissions may
be issued under the authority Of this Gov
eminent. And all postmasters are hereby
required to render to the Post Office De-
partment at Washington, ID. c., their final
accounts and vouchers for postal receipts and
expenditures unto the 3lst day of this month
taking care to forward with said accounts all
postage stamps and stamped envelopes re-
manning on hand, belonging to the Post Of
flee Department of the United States, in or
der that they may receive the proper cred
its therefor in the adjustment of their ac-
counts and they are further required to re-
tain in their possession to meet the orders
of the Postmaster General of the United
States, for the payment Of mail service
within the Confederate States. all revenue
which shall have accrued from the postal
service prior to the said 1st day of June
next.
All contractors, mail messengers, and
special contractors for conveying the mails
within the Confederate States under exist
ing contracts with the Government of the
United STAGES, are hereby authorized to con-
tinue to perform such service under my Gi-
rection, from and after the day last above
named. subject to such notifications and
changes may be found necessary, under
the powers vested in the Postmaster Gener-
al by the terms of said contracts and the
provisions of the second section or an act
approved May 9th, 1861, conformable there
to. And the said contractors, special con-
tractors and mail messengers, are required to
forward, without delay, the number of their
routeor routes, the nature of the service there
on, the schedule Of arrivals and departures,
the name of tiis Offices supplied, and the
mount oil annual compensation for the pres
ent service, together with their address, di-
rected to the g Chief of the Contract Bu-
reau, Post Office Department, Montgomery,
Alabama
Until postal treaty shall be made with
the Government of the United States for
the exchange of mails between that Gov
ernment and the Government of this Con
iederacy, postmasters will not be authorize
to collect United States postage on mail
matter sent to or received from those Statcs
andsnntil supplies of postage stamps and
stamped envelopes are procured for the pre-
payment of postage within the Confederate
States, all postage must be paid in money,
under the provisions of the fist section of
an act approved March lst 1861.
Given under my hand and the
-, seal of the Post Office Department
IL. S. of the Confederate States &c
~ America, at Montgomery Ala, the
18th day of May, in the year 1861
| JOHN H. REAGAN,
| Postmaster General