The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-28
A PROCLAMATION

by tile Postmaster General Of the Confederate
States Of 4D,erica. -.se.-.-..
| Whereas, by the provisions of an Act, approved
March Is, 1861, and amended by the first section
of an Act, approved May g. 1861, the Postmaster
General of the Confederate States "is authorised,
on and after a day to be named by him for chat
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 after such day, except by authority of the
Postmaster General thereof, is thereby prohibited:
Now, therefore, l. John H. Reagan, Postmaster
General Of the Confederate States of America, do
issue this my proclamation, notifying all post
masters, contractors, and special and route agents
in the service of the Post Office Department, and
engaged in the transmission and delivery of the
mails, or otherwise in any manner connected with
the service, within the limits of the Confederate
States of America, that and after the lst day
of June next, shall sume the entire control and
direction of the postal service therein And l
hereby direct all postmasters, route agents and
special agents within these States, and acting
under the authority and direction of the POST
MASTER General 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 regulations are not incon-
sistent with the laws and constitution Of the Con-
federate States Of America. and such further in
structions as may hereafter be issued by my direc-
tion And the said postmasters route agents aud
special agents also required to forward to this
Department without delay, their names, with the
names of the Offices of which they are postmasters,
(giving the State and County,) to be directed to
the ''Chief of the Appointment Bureau, Post
Office Department, Montgomery, Alabama" in
order that new commissions may be issued under
the authority of this Government And all post
l.. Il. II
Office Department at Washington, ID. O., their
final accounts and their vouchers for postal receipts
and expenditures, up to the 31s day of this month,
taking care to forward with said accounts all
postage stamps and stamped envelopes, remaining
on hand belonging to the Post Office Department
of the United States, in order that they may re-
ccve the proper credits therefor in the adjustment
Of their accounts; and they further required to
retain 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 have accrued from the
postal service prior to the 1st day Of june next
All contractors mail messengers and special
contractors for conveying the mails within the
Confederate States, under existing contracts with
the Government of the United States are hereby
authorized to continue to perform such service
under my direction, from and after the day last
above named subject to such notifications and
changes as may be found necessary under the
powers vested in the Postmaster General by the
terms of said contracts and provisions Of the sec
ond section of an Act approved May 9, 1861, con-
formablc thereto. And the said contractors,
special contractors and mail messengers are re-
quired to forward, without delay, the number Of
their routes, the nature 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, Mont
gomery, Alabama"
Until postal treaty shall be made with the
Government of the United States for the exchange
of mails between that Government and the Gov
ernment of this Confederacy postmasters will not
be authorized to collect United States postage on
mail matter sent received from those States and
until supplies Of postage stamps and stamped
velopes procured for the pre- payment of
postage within the Confederate States all postages
must be paid in money under the provisions of
the frst section Of an Act approved March 1st,
1861. -f .@s -sr@f' .
Given under my hand and the seal Of the Post
Office Department of the Confederate States Of
America, at Montgomery, Alabama, the 18th
day Of May, in the year 1861.
-'D-...4 ,- JOHN H.. REAGAN, =
....- -s-. Postmaster-G General.