The southern press., 1851-11-03

. - nc bTtted STATES Postal Guide afd
CUetut .1duertiSer, containing about 80 spperrouaI
octaoo pages, Is published monthly t,r ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annuin, payable in aduanes-or fine
dollars for sr copies ordered
PREPARATORY NOTICE
The enterprise In which we now embark and
OF which this paper Is at once the comniencemert
and sample Of the papers that are to follow. as
for its aim no less purpose, than to mpert in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents of the American public, in res oect both
to their duties and their rights, and to make them,
and the people at large acquainted with the organ
ization, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government There has hth-
erto teen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of information of this kind The
publication OF the Laws and the issue of instrur .
tions, or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
qunte, in the absence Of the construction or those
Laws, applied to particular cases, and Of details
| and illustrations to make the regulations and in.
structons ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported TO Congress- are too voumnouss
and printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries of the press upon their proceed.
ngs, and the proceedings of the Executive branch
of the Government, besides turning mostly upon
general priI ciplss, address themselves only to
party ends, AMI to matters of national policys
These publications. IN their various forms
highly useful in themselves as far they 90, and
| some of them Indispensable but there is much
that do reach the hands Of all, nor 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 SAT.
or easy, whether in respect to the incumbent hims
self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts. We shall make an honest effort supply
this vacuum, and to provide for these necessities.
If we succeed in rendering the functions of the
primary Offices more uniform, methodical and ex
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 ex.
tent at least-apart from, and independently
any party or personal interest or question what
ever. f g1ueg
| 1t IL known to most Of those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor was AudIs
tor of the Post-Ofhce Department until the month
of November last; with by far the larger portion
Of both postmasters and contractors, he has had
direct intercourse, in person or by letter. He
tered the department fourteen years since, and for
many years previously, had been first in the War
| Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities for
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 flatters himself he has
| preserved the respect and regard of most Of the
| present incumbents of the departments, and is on
becoming terms of intercourse and civty with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduousy
engaged for several years, In studying, by per-
sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Oifce 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
ton, and for imparting minute and illustrative ins
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that we challenge your confidence
and solicit your support and patronage.
! We have fixed upon the 18th Of each month as
the day for the publication of our paper so as to
afford time for obtaining from the departments.
all the orders, notices and changes issued or made
al. tnA It,,r
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws anu
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart
| ment only once IN two or three years. IL is
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been remedy, that in one
month from the time of these issues, there are off
fees in the tables which no longer in operations
and offices in operation which not in the tablesf
At this time there are perhaps over three thousand
offices of the two descriptions. In like manner
laws have been passed aud regulations established
since the issue of the last volume of regulations,
| of which many postmasters and others 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, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modif.
| cations, made IN each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postmasters full and
exact information upon both subjects, up to and
for time being. How much of the present misdi
| rection, remailing, doubt, confusion, error, and
inposition will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for which we have
| provided, and for which we engage, every intelll-
| cent postmaster can estimate for himself.
| These advantages alone and Independently Of all
| Others are worth many times the price we charge
for the paper, and WILL it is hoped, induce every
| postmaster who feels just pride in his office
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at once
to subscribe. The same considerations apply tr
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction.
OF the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and InterioI
departments, and the same course is intended in
| respect to them. Notices OF the decisions of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questions
of official duty or natonalinteres, will find place
in this papsr. -