generally to perform all such services relative to the finances, and all such other duties, as he may by law be directed to perform. their compensation. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury May appoint clerks; shall have power to appoint a chief clerk, and also such other clerks, from time to time, as he may deem necessary, and Congress may authorize by law, which officers shall respectively receive such compensation as may be provided by law. Shall procure official seal. an Copies of records, &c., under seal re SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be procured an official seal for the Department of Treasury, to be approved by the President; and copies of all official papers or records in said department, certified under the seal thereof, ceived as evidence. shall be received in evidence in all the courts of the Confederate States, in lieu of such original papers or records. Duties of Assistant Secretary of Treas SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to examine all letters, contracts, ury. and warrants prepared for the signature of the Secretary of the Treasury, and perform all such other duties as may be devolved on him by law or by the Secretary of the Treasury. Duties of the Comp SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the troller. Comptroller to superintend the adjustment and preservation of the public accounts; to examine all accounts settled by the Auditor, and certify the balances arising thereon to the Register; to countersign all warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury which shall be authorized by law; to report to the Secretary the official forms of all papers to be issued in the different offices for collecting the public revenue, and the manner and form of keeping and stating the accounts of the several persons employed therein. He shall, moreover, provide for the regular and punctual payment of all moneys which may be collected, and shall direct prosecutions for all delinquencies of officers of the revenue, and for debts that are or shall be due to the Confederate States. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Auditor to receive all public accounts, and after examination to certify the balance, and transmit the accounts, with the vouchers and certificate, to the Comptroller for his decision thereon: Provided, That if any person whose account shall be so audited be dissatisfied therewith, he. may appeal to the Comptroller against such settlement. Duties of the Auditor. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Auditor of the public Auditor may adaccounts shall be empowered to administer oaths or affirmations to minister oaths. witnesses, in any case in which he may deem it necessary or proper for the due examination of the accounts with which he may be charged. Duties of the ReSEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the gister. Register to keep all accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, and of all debts due to or from the Confederate States; to receive from the Comptroller the accounts which shall have been finally adjusted, and to preserve such accounts, with their vouchers and certificates; to record all warrants for the receipt or payment of moneys at the Treasury, certify the same thereon, and to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury copies of the certificates of balances of accounts adjusted as herein directed. Duties of the Treas SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and keep the moneys of the Confederate States, and urer. to disburse the same upon warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury, countersigned by the Comptroller, and recorded by the Register, and not otherwise; he shall take receipts for all moneys paid by him, and all receipts for moneys received by him shail be endorsed upon warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, without which warrant, so signed, no acknowledgment for money received into the public Treas Prohibition upon thice under this act. ury shall be valid. And the said Treasurer shall render his accounts to the Comptroller quarterly, or oftener if required, and shall transmit a copy thereof, when settled, to the Secretary of the Treasury. He shall, at all times, submit to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller, or either of them, the inspection of the books and records in his office, and of all moneys in his hands; and shall, prior to entering upon the duties of his office, give bond, with good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury and Comptroller, in the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, payable to the Confederate States of America, with condition for the faithful performance of the duties of his office, and for the fidelity of the persons to be by him employed, which bond shall be lodged in the office of the Comptroller. SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That no person appointed to any persons appointed to office instituted by this act shall, directly, or indirectly, be concerned or interested as owner in whole. or in part of any sea-vessel; or purchase, by himself or another in trust for him, any public property or forfeited goods; or be concerned in the purchase or disposal of any public Securities of any State or of the Confederate States; or take or apply to his own use any emolument or gain for negotiating or transacting any business in the said department, other than what shall be Penalty for breach allowed by law. And if any person shall offend against any of the of the prohibitions of prohibitions of this act, he shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and the law. forfeit to the Confederate States the penalty of three thousand dollars, and shall, upon conviction, be removed from office and forever thereafter be incapable of holding any office under the Confederate States : Provided, That if any other person than a public prosecutor shall give information of any such offence, upon which a prosecution and conviction shall be had, one-half of the aforesaid penalty of three thousand dollars, when recovered, shall be for the use of the person giving such information. APPROVED February 21, 1861. February 21, 1861. War Department established. Duties of Secretary of War. To have connected with army CHAP. IX.-An Act to establish the War Department. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That an executive department be, and the same is hereby established, under the name of the War Department, the chief officer of which shall be called the Secretary of War. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That said Secretary shall, under the charge of all matters direction and control of the President, have charge of all matters and and Indian Tribes. things connected with the army, and with the Indian tribes within the limits of the Confederacy, and shall perform such duties appertaining to the army, and to said Indian tribes, as may from time to time be assigned to him by the President. May appoint clerks. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of said department is hereby authorized to appoint a chief clerk thereof, and as many inferior clerks as may be found necessary and may be authorized by law. APPROVED February 21, 1861. CHAP. X.- An Act to establish the Navy Department. February 21, 1861. established. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That Navy Department an executive department be, and the same is hereby established, to be called the Navy Department. tary of the Navy. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the chief officer of said depart- Duties of the Secrement shall be called the Secretary of the Navy, and shall, under the direction and control of the President, have charge of all matters and things connected with the Navy of the Confederacy, and shall perform all such duties appertaining to the navy as shall, from time to time, be assigned to him by the President. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That said Secretary shall be authorized to appoint a chief clerk and such other clerks as may be found necessary and be authorized by law. APPROVED February 21, 1861. CHAP. XI. To establish the Post Office Department February 21, 1861. ment established. Duties of the Postmaster General. His salary. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That Post Office Depart there shall be an executive department, to be denominated the Post Office Department, and there shall be a principal officer therein, to be called the Postmaster General, who shall perform such duties in relation to post offices and post routes, as shall be enjoined on him by the President of the Confederate States, agreeably to the constitution and the laws of the land, who shall be paid an annual salary to be fixed by law, and have power to appoint a chief clerk and such inferior clerks May appoint clerks. as may be found necessary, who shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by law. APPROVED February 21, 1861. CHAP. XII.—An Act to organize and establish an Executive Department, to be known as the February 21, 1961. Department of Justice. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, there shall be an executive department, to be known as the Department of Justice. The principal officer at the head of said department shall be denominated the Attorney General, who shall be paid an annual salary to be fixed by law, and who shall have the power to appoint a clerk, at such compensation as may be fixed by law. Department of Jus tice established. Salary of Attorney General. May appoint a clerk. Tuties of the At torney General. SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court, in which the Confederate States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law, when required by the President of the Confederate States, or when requested by any of the heads of departments, touching any matters that may concern their departments on subjects before them. shall also have supervisory power over the accounts of the marshals, marshals and oficers clerks and officers of all the courts of the Confederate States, and all of the courts. claims against the Confederate States. APPROVED February 21, 1861. 3 He Supervisory power over accounts of February 28, 1861. Rates of postage established. On single letters. What deemed a single letter. rated by weight. Drop letters. by stamps. on letters advertised. Postage on newspapers sent from the to subscribers. CHAP. XIII.-An Act to prescribe the Rates of Postage in the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after such period as the Postmaster General may by procla mation announce, there shall be charged the following rates of postage, to-wit: For every single sealed letter, and for every letter in manuscript or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be asked for or communicated in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail. for any distance between places within the Confederate States of America, not exceeding five hundred miles, five cents; and for any distance. exceeding five hundred miles, doable that rate; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional What packages single postage; and all packages containing other than printed or written matter and money packages are included in this class-shall be rated by weight as letters are rated, and shall be charged double the rates of postage on letters; and all drop letters, or letters placed in any postoffice not for transmission, but for delivery only, shall be charged with Postage pre-paid postage at the rate of two cents each; and in all the foregoing cases the postage must be pre-paid by stamps; and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any postAdditional postage office, shall be charged with two cents each in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages of this Confederacy. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all newspapers not exceeding office of publication three ounces in weight, sent from the office of publication to actual and bona fide subscribers, shall be charged with postage as follows, to-wit: The postage on the regular numbers of a newspaper published weekly, within the State where published, shall be six and one-half cents per quarter; and papers published semi-weekly, double that rate; and papers published thrice a week, treble that rate; and papers published daily, six times that rate; and the postage on all newspapers to actual subscribers without the State where published, shall be charged double On periodicals so the foregoing rates. And periodicals sent from the office of publication to actual and bona fide subscribers, shall be charged with postage as follows, to wit: The postage on the regular numbers of a periodical not exceeding one and a half ounces in weight and published monthly, within the State where published, shall be three cents per quarter; if published semi-monthly, double that rate; and for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce, double the foregoing rates shall be charged; and periodicals published quarterly or bi-monthly shall be charged one cent an ounce; and the postage on all periodicals without the State where published shall be double the above specified rates; and regular subscribers to newspapers and periodicals shall be required to On other newspa- pay one quarter's postage in advance. And there shall be charged upon circulars, handbills, every other newspaper, and each circular not sealed, handbill, engraving, pamphlet, periodical and magazine, which shall be unconnected with any manuscript or wrttten matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight, two cents; and for each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce, two cents additional; and in all cases the postage shall be preOn books, bound or paid by stamps. And books, bound or unbound, not weighing over four pounds, shall be deemed mailable matter, and shall be charged with postage, to be pre paid by stamps, at two cents an ounce for any distance. The publishers of newspapers or periodicals may send to ther, free of postage. each other, from their respective offices of publication, free of postage, one copy of each publication. sent. pers and periodicals, engravings, etc. anbound. Publishers may send publications to each sons, to be furnished and stamped envel postage stamps. using or possessing, Counter SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Post- Deputy postmasmaster General to provide and furnish to all deputy postmasters, and to all ters, and other perother persons applying and paying therefor, suitable postage stamps with postage stamps and stamped envelopes, of the denomination of two cents, five cents, opes. and twenty cents, to facilitate the pre-payment of postages provided for in this act; and any person who shall forge or counterfeit any postage Penalty for forging stamp provided or furnished under the provisions of this or any former or counterfeiting act, whether the same are impressed or printed on or attached to envelopes or not, or any die, plate, or engraving therefor, or shall make Or for making, or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession, with intent forged or to use or sell, any such false, forged or counterfeited die, plate, engrav- feited dies, plates, etc. ing or postage stamp, or who shall make or print, or authorize or procure to be made or printed, any postage stamps of the kind provided and furnished by the Postmaster General as aforesaid, without the especial authority and direction of the Post Office Department, or who, after such postage stamps have been printed, shall, with intent to defraud the revenues of the Post Office Department, deliver any out authority. postage stamps withpostage stamps to any person or persons, other than such as shall be authorized to receive the same by an instrument of writing, duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster General and the seal of the Post office Department, shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of felony, and be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and the expenses of procuring and providing all such postage stamps and letter envelopes as are provided for or authorized by this act, shall be paid, after being adjusted by the Auditor of the Post-Office Department, on the certificate of the Postmater General, out of any money in the treasury arising from the revenues of the Post Office Department. Or for delivering Postmasters to deface postage stamps sion. postage stamps that Franking privilege SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every postmaster to cause to be defaced, in such manner as the Postmaster attached to letters. General shall direct, all postage stamps of this Confederacy attached to letters deposited in his office for delivery, or to be sent by mail; and if any postmaster sending letters in the mail, with such postage stamps attached, shall omit to deface the same, it shall be the duty of the post- Penalty for omis master, to whose office such letter shall be sent for delivery, to deface the stamps and report the delinquent postmaster to the Postmaster General. And if any person shall use or attempt to use in pre-payment of postage any postage stamps which shall have been before used for like purposes, such person shall be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars Penalty for using for every such offence, to be recovered in the name of the Confederate had been before used. States of America in any court of competent jurisdiction. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That from and after the day when this act goes into effect the franking privilege shall be abolished: Provided, That the Postmaster General and his chief clerks and Auditor of the Exception in favor Treasury for the Post Office Department shall be and they are hereby of certain officers in authorized to transmit through the mail, free of postage, any letters, packages or other matters relating exclusively to their official duties or to the business of the Post Office Department; but they shall, in every such case, endorse on the back of the letter or package to be sent free of postage, over their own signatures, the words Official Business." And for any such endorsement falsely made, the person so offending shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars. And provided further, The several deputy postmasters throughout the Confederate States shall be and hereby are authorized to send through the mail, free of masters. postage, all letters and packages which it may be their duty or they may have occasion to transmit to any person or place, and which shall relate abolished. the Postoffice Depart ment and deputy post |