The southern press., 1851-11-01
PREPARATORY NOTICE

dollars for sir copies ordered
.H 100 PREPARATORY NOTICE ro
The enterprise IN which we now embark, and
OF which this paper Is at once the commencement
and sample of the papers that are to follow, tas
for its aim no less purpose, than TO mpart in
structon in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents Of the American public, in respect both
to their duties and theirrglts, and TO make them,
and the people at large, acquainted with the organ
zation, decisions and acton of the Executive de-
partnents of their Government. There has hth-
erto Leen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of Information of this kind The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instrur
lions, more or less comprehensive and al intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence of the construction OF those
Laws, as applied TO particular cases. and of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and in.
structions ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too yoluminous.
and are printed in quantities small for general
circulation; whilst the dictates in Congress- and
the commentaries Of the press upon their proceed
ings and the proceedings of the Executive branch
of the Government, besides turning mostly upon
general principles, address themselves only 10
party ends, and to matters of national policyl
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves as far as they go, and
some of them Indispensable; but there is much
that do not reach the hands Of ALL if they did,
do they furnish those rules, Methods and exam.
ples for the despatch of the public business which
can render the discharge of public duty either sal
or easy, whether in respectto the incumbent him.
self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts. We shall make honest effort to supply
| this vacuum, and to provide for these necessities
If we succeed in rendering the functions of the
primary Offices more uniform, methodical, and ey
| act, we shall make the administrative duties of the
departments more easy and effective, and thereby
promote the real and substantial interests Of the
country And this we expect to do, to some
tent at least-apnrt from, and independently
any party or personal interest or question >whatl
| ever. b
| 1t is known to most Of those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor AUDI,
tor Of the Post-Ofce Department until the month;
of November last; with by far he.larger portR
of both postmasters and contractors, he has had
direct intercourse, in person or by letter lie
tered the department fourteen years since, antfor
many years previously, had been, first in the War
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities for4
understanding the arrangements Of business in all
| the departments, and being acquainted with those
| who carry it on Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he natters himself he has
! preserved the respect and regard of most of the
present incumbents of the departments, and is
| becoming terms of intercourse and civity with
| them all The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
| engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
| sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Office and
other branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative acs
lion, and for impartins minute and illustrative in
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that we challenge your confidence
and solicit your support and patronage.
We have fl xed upon the 18th OF each month as
the day for the publication of our paper, as to
afford time for obtaining from the departments.
all the orders, notices and changes issued, made
by them during the preceding month. Tables o.
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two three years IL is a
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been no remedy, that in one
month from the time of these issues, there off
fees in the tables which no longer in operations
and Offices in operation which not in the tabest
At this time there perhaps over three thousand
offices of the two descriptions In like manner
laws have been passed and regulations established
since the issue of the last volume of regu ulations,
of which many postmasters and others are wholly
ignorant. We propose to prevent, for the present.,
any increase of the evil of either kind, and from
the time another issue shall be made, paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modh.
cations, made IN each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to posmasters full and
exact information upon both subjects, up to and
for time being. How much of the present misdi
rection, remaling, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition will be saved by the progressive state
OF full and exact knowledge, for which we have
provided, and for which we engage, every Intel-
gent postmaster estimate for himself. .IT
These advantages alone and independently Of all
others are worth many times the price we charge
for the paper, aud will 1T is hoped induce every
postmaster who feels Just pride in his Office
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office systeu,--at once
to subscribe The same considerations apply to
the orders and notices, decisions, and nstructiort
OF the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interio,
departments and the ~ intended in
respect to them. Notices Of the decisions Of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questIonr
of official duty national interest, willhnd place
in this pap~r. utW