The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-06-07
Our New Postal System.

Postmaster General REAGAN, assumed the entire
oontro of the Postal service in the Confederate
States last Saturday, LIST INST The last tie tha' u
any manner bound Us to the old concern i th'R
severed ana the anomaly removed otalowlng 4 no =
tile Government TO control and direct this impoitsh
branch OF our public service,
The change will scarcely he felt by the public, ane
little or no Inconvenience experien ed from 1 FL
carefully had Mir. Reagan mads hls arrangements
perfeet It, The principal difference bttween tie
new and old system Is that under tho former, tin
rates of postage are increased the franking priv
lege, except n letters relating strictly to fos' 'ine
business. abolished and heletter Estry system re-
pealed These are all valuable changes Tho iralk
ing privilege under the old Government besides be
ing great source of corruption, added greatly to
the expenses Of the department. and embarrassed
the regularity and efficiency Of the service by the
enormous quantity Il trash with which it weighed
down the mails, The registration system was ahum
bug. and only served to indicate to thievsh postmas
ters or other depredators the letters that contained
valuabes.
The increase of the postage rates was necessary ia
make the department sefsustanng. II would Nc
do at this time to have it quartered upon the gene
raj treasury when every dollar that can be raised Is
needed for the defence Of the country Our people
will bear the slight additional expense of cores
pondence eheerfuy, We have the consolation Of
knowing that we are now independent in this, Ms in
al other things Of the North. The rates Of postage
now are on letters weighing under Z o. within 500
miles, cents beyond 600 miles, 10 cents, with an
additional rate for each additional = o.,
Drop letters Of any weight cents.
Transient Newspapers, unsealed Circulars, Mag.
azines, or Handblls unconnocted with any manu-
script weighing not over three ounces cents, with
an additional rate for every additional ounce for any
distance.
Books bound or unbound weighing not over four
pounds two cents per ounce.
All Newspapers Periodicals or Books published
beyond the limits Of the conlederacy are subject to
double the above rates.
Prepayment in money until postage stamps and
envelopes are prepared for the oontederaey) will bt
required.
On Letters, Papers, sc, fer offices beyond this
Confederacy, prepayment 10 United States stamps
will be required to cover the foreign postage and il
money for the Confedopcy postage
1t seems generally understood tina letters intend
ed for the North and for Europe will be allowed by tn,
Lincoln Government to pass to their destination pro
vided the United States and foreign postage is paic
on them in United States stamps This can only b
done by those who took the preeaudon to provide
themselves with United States stamps before th,
first Of June, as Postmasters in the Confederate
States we're forbid to sell them after the day
Postmasters are required to retain al monies
mail bags, locks keys, aud other property lately be
longing to the United States Government and il
their possession on the first Of June Their return
are to be made to the Government at Washington
up to the first OF June and oil stamps aud stampe,
snyelops on hand returned to the Post Office De
partment Of the United States. The Quarterly re
turns are to be made formerly on the last days o
March, June, September December, and returns ais,
for the fractional part Of quarter ending tn o
this month Accounts Of Postmasters must be rem
dered within two days after the close Of the quarter
andas they are not alleged 20 give credit for potaSe
the want of funds will not be received as an e2eusi
for falling to pay The ordsr Of tn hogemmt nj tn
amount Que at the close Of each quarter.
These are the essential features in the prscti a
woiking " he system, anu we have stated Il en-
Hi.h sumo particularly aa maHerof general and Use
ful information, which every body who takea Pape
Or writes a letter ls Interested tn obtaining.