The national Republican., 1861-06-12
POSTAGE STAMPS LIKELY TO BE
COUNTERFEITEU.


Fraud on. the Post Office Department.
We learn that scne o the postmasters Of the
seeded States, in. % 4 of returning the United
States postage stamps on hand to Washington,
as ordered, have sent large quantities Of them
to this and other cities, and are selling them on
private or Confederate account Is there no
way Of detecting and punishing this fraud on
our Post Office revenue ueH"
The above extract from the New York World,
not only presents new phase Of the Wholesale
confscation of Federal property by the Con.
fsderate thieves and rebels, but suggests new
danger to the Post Office Department, which
should receive the immediate attention Of its re.
sponsible head. Noone who bestows moments
attention upon the subject can doubt the entire
practcabili,y Of converting postage stamps,
even in large quantities, into ready money.
The stamp has indeed become an established
substitute for Federal currency. Many period
icals and newspapers receive their subscription,
to large extent, in stamps RENTED. So, also,
in all kinds of business, small orders and the
balance Of orders are given in the same way.
Consequently, in all our Northern cities, the
post Office has many competitors in the sale Of
stamps. They are kept for sale at retail, at
hotels, bookstores, saloons, &C., and brokers
sell them, in large quantities, at a small dis.
count from the Government price. No South.
ern currency or certificate of value can at all
compare with the stamp.
The facility with which it is now disposed of
by those who have them on hand at the South,
will be very likely to suggest the obtaining
new supply when the present is exhausted. The
present circulation of the stamps not returned
by the Southern post Offices is, in the contem.
plation Of law, q forgery, and their manufac-
ture will not increase the danger or the crime.
The imitation Of the United States postage
stamp is admitted to be very easy. If the most
curious and elaborate engraving of bank note
may be counterfeited SO as to deceive even ex.
perts, certainly that of the stamp SO much more
simple and less complicated, requires only the
ordinary skill Of the engraver for its successful
counterfeit.
The British and other European post offices,
to guard against such counterfeiting, have the
stamp impressed upon paper manufactured,
with threads inlaid, expressly for this purpose.
1t was certainly great oversight that a simi.
lar precaution, in regard to stamps, was not
adopted in this country. This neglect should
be provided for by the Post Office Department,
and the present danger arising from it obviated,
in some way, without delay.
GOVERNOR HIcKs.-About the following let.
ter we know nothing more than that it is print
ed in . Baltimore paper not friendly to the
cause of the Union. 1t may be a fabrication
intended in some way to have influence upon
te.norrow's election in Maryland, or to encour.
age projected riot and rising in Baltimore
tomorrow, in aid Of Beauregards movement,
which attempt we have reason to fear:
GOV. HICKS A TRUE sOUTHERNER.
From tho Baltimore Exchange
tArms OF Maryland.l
STATE OF MARYLANp, Executive CHAMBER,
Annapolis, November ., 1860.
Hon. E. II. WEBsrER-Dear Sir: have
pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your
favor, introducing a very clever gentleman to
my acquaintance, (though DemocraL) re.
gret to say that we have, at this time, no arms
on hand to distribute; but assure, at the earliest
possible moment your company shall have arms.
They have complied with all required on their
part. We have some delay in consequence Of
contracts with Georgia and Alabama, ahead of
US. We expect, at an early day, an additional
supply, and, of the first received, your people
shall be furnished. VIII they be good men to
send out TO Kill Lincoln and his meaf !fnot,
suppose the arms could be better sent South.
How does late election sit with your 'Tis too
bad. Hartford nothing to reproach herself for.
Your obedient servant,
THonA Fl HICVa