The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897 Volume 2 Page: 258

                                
84

Laws of the Republic of Texas.

three months, it shall be the duty of the Post-Maaster-General to
cause a suit to be commenced against the person so neglecting
or refusing; and if the Post-Master-General shall not cause such
suit to be commenced within six months from the end of every
such three months, the balance due from     every such delinquent,
shall be charged to and be recoverable from the Post-Mlaster-General;
that all suits which shall hereafter be commenced for the recovery
of debts, or balances due the General-Post-Office, whether
they appear by hand or obligation, shall be made in the name of
the existing, or other preceding Post-Master-General, or otherwise,
shall be charged in the name of the Post-Master-General of
Texas, and that certified under the seal of the General-Post-Office,
of the accounts current of the several Post-Masters shall be admitted
in all suits brought by the Post-Master-General for the recovery
of debts, or balances due from Post-Masters or other persons,
in like manner, copies of such bonds, or accounts current as are
lodged in the department of State, under the seal of the GeneralPost-Office
Department, shall be admitted as evidence.
Sec. 26. Be it further enacted, That all letters and packets to
and from the following officers of this Republic, shall be received
and conveyed by post, free of postage: each Post-Master; Provided,
the package does not exceed one ounce in weight; the President
and his cabinet officers; the Vice-President, and the members
of both branches of Congress of this Republic, during the session
of congress, and thirty days thereafter, and the Secretary and
other officers of congress during the time of their actual services;
the Treasurer, and Post-Master-General; all officers of the army
and navy, collectors and officers of the revenue, when communicating
on subjects connected with public service, all of whom     shall
receive their newspapers by the public post, free of postage; Provided,
That no letetr or packet. from   any public officer shall be
conveyed by post, free of postage, unless he shall frank the same,
by writing his name and office on the outside of such letter, or
packet, as in case of officers of the army, navy, and collectors, and
officers of revenue on public service.
Sec. 27. Be it further enacted, That if any person shall
frank letters other than those written by himself, or by his order,
he shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine of fifty dollars: and if
any person shall counterfeit the frank, or hand writing. or cause
the same to be done in order to avoid the payment of postage,
each person so offending, shall, for every such offence, pay a fine
of one hundred dollars: Provided, That every printer of a newspaper
may send one paper to each and every other printer of a

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