The New York herald., 1862-10-11
TIE POSTAGE sTAsap CURRENCY.
Statement of the City Postmaster Wake
man in Reference to Defaccd Postage


Statement OF the City Postmaster Wake
man in Reference to Defaccd Postage
Stamps.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Posr OFFICE, New YORK, Oct 10, 1852.
Numerous letters, critical ana advisory, rieudy and
denunciatory have recently boen received at this Office
in regard to regulations OF the Post Office Department
spectipg postage stamps.
Time will not permit TO reply to them in detail,
beg leave therefore, TO submit The following statement,
which 1t is believed, will explain the various points
raised.
"postage sampe' have been and are very generally
confounded with postage currency" THIS error his
been the canse of misapprehensions.a and dlculties
spoet ~ stamps issued by the Post Office Depart
only AID by law ihoy be used only for the pre-
paymen, of postage.
.Pos;ago Currency is issued only by the Secretary Of
the Treasury his assistants pursuant to The act OF Con
gress approye ed July II 1862 cannot used for PIE
payment Of postage but and intended to he used
for the purchase OF postagc stamps ard as currency
posinge stamps cannot be used as currency withou,
dverting them from the purpose FOR Which they were
designed and violating the orders OF the Post Office De-
partment. TO them such is TO wrcst them from
thcir proper Office, and apply them to purpose for
which they designed or adapted. On he
traTy, "p0stage currency expressly designed for
cuatng medium by the act or Congress referred to-
the Treasury Department is expressly authorized to far
nish the oposage and other stamps as oaeacy" Geae
rally the public erroneonsy assumed thai this act
egalizcd currency poslage stamps then IN use for
prepay Of postage, md furnished by the Post Oee
Department, aud Immediately commenced thci! lsc as
such
The depa tmea rorcseeng the evil consequences which
would esul. from this course gave immediate and ul
notice did and could not furnish stamps
currency and would only sell hem'to he used IN prepay
ment Of postage Pursuant 10 this notice efforts
made to restrict the sale Of stamps T. the demand Il.
postage purposes but Notwithstanding these Efforts their
use currency became ye y 8, neral.
Their untness for tits purpose soon save and con nne
TO give, the department great difficulty Being common
parer covered with macage o. one side and pant on 'e
other, they scou became soed defsccd aud torn. Evil
disposed persons finding that stamps could be use as mo
ncy that the incident 10 .laton rendered
lection impossible collected large OF stamps that
had bccn used for postage, and byrcsng the canceag
use FOR currency and as postage Tue crime oi making
using vending stamTs that have been Cancelled Is
felony and is punishable by Imprisonment Tor three
years aud by lne of thousand dollars Yet this
crime became 50 frequent that there was reason TO e
eye that large portion OF the stamps used currency
have been thus fraudulcnlly put IL circulation II he
came ia mahy cases i'm, ,lOsslbe TO determine The
bit valid from the cancelled and w1shet Srtamls A.
consequence hundreds os letters have been deposited ~
this Office having on them stamps that have evidently
boon cancelled. The false could not. however, in most
be distinguished from the genuine and is govern
ment being deirauded to very largo extent 10
this state OF things the order ssned by the
department that letters covered by soi'ed, deaced
washed stamps, would be sent % the De,d Letter
Office
In the execution Of this order and in accordance with
its spirit. only such letters are withheld as are clearly
covered by fraudulent stamps those so sUied de
faced or washed as TO render IT impossible 10 determine
whether they arc valid or not.
Postage stamps are sold for single purpose, viz The
prepayment OF postage Contrary TO the orders OF the
department. they are applied TO another purpose Tor
this way they are injured that they cannot be dis
ttgished from those that have been cancelled and as
further consequence. dangerous and excessive frauds
committed to the great loss and embarrassment OF the
In view Of these facts can il with fairness b. said ha.
because the department declines forward letters
covered with stamps injured that they cannot e dis
tnguished from the fraudulent that II i guilty Of
N T.fr
should tall upon those who by Improper ol these
etamps have rendered II impossible 10 determine their
validity.
But i is said these frauds complained Of are mostly
result Of imperfect cancellation, thai The depart
ment iu fault in not providing more perfect mshod
To this is answered that previous 10 the rss OF these
stamps for currency the cancellation With indelble
ink sufficient The frauds comrsiued of opy the
suit Of using postage siamps' money Since this
practice was entered upon il has been impossible to
change the mode OF cancellation Although method
has beeu devised, and s now 10 use IN tbs once and
which, soon AZ II can bo generally adopted, VIII rendsr
the cancellation comp'ee, 10 change tho method through
tho department, embracing $1,000 dinercn, Offices
necessarily involves very large expense, aud must
be a work OF time.
IL is SAID again, n the department iii not wish ''pos
stamps to be used az currency II should have pro.
vdcd'the necessary supply or postage currency pur
suant ~ the act oil July last
10 this II should be said that this act passed with
out the slightest consultation with the Post once Depart
ment and It's execution Is In terms devolved upon the
Secretary Of the Treasury. Although, apparently, delay
has occurred In It's execution Yet it should be remem.
bcrcd that there but few companies Ia this country
possessing necessary machinery 70 execute this kind OF
work In large quantities and that all the which
could be made available have been applied night and
day, to supply tho country with demand notes, legal
tender bills and postage currency. II Is confidently be-
eved that Ia ow days the supply Of the latter will be
amplo
1t Is further urged that great loss will accrue to tho
public unless the stamps that have been thus circulated
redeemed. take pleasure in stating that the Post
General has under consideration pen by which
u believed 80 soon as proper supply OF postage cur
rency shall be furnished iorsons holding valid stamps
xxtflh he fnr
At this Office since the publication Of the order so much
complained Of comparatively few letters have been de-
posted coyercdb by soilcd invalid stamps AMI IL > be-
eved that the effect or the order undo stood aud
ecued, has boon saluary and that time will prove that
II was both wise and effective Certain II is u was not
designed TO needless loss injury, but rather TO
shield and protect both tho people and he govcrnn,
AEsAM WAkEMAN.
Onr rur GAZE Ernnrr Thu efealnA hin scot M.