The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and Official .aDVERTTSER.

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND oFFICLaL ADVERTISER.
q To sho,o ,chat is done, and ,ohai should be done
IN office. IN
rErth u WAsurNGToN, pu, -,
ChhhLEs M. WILLARD, h1H"0'S una ffoP''e'""
itRMs. -" The United States Postal Guide and
Dclai ddoeriiser," containing about 20 spper-rouaL
ociapo pages is published ,no,,thiu s,r oSr Dol
LAR ONLY, per a'.nu'n, payable in aduaaes--or fps
dollars for sir copies ordered
PREPARATORY NOTICE
The enterprise in which now embark. and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement
aud sample of the papers that are to follow as
for its aim no less purpose, than TO impart in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents of the American public, in respect both
to their duties and their rights, and 10 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 hith-
erto teen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of Information of this kind The
publication of the Laws and the issue of lnstruc!
tons, more or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence of the construction OF those
Laws, 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 voIuminous!
and are printed in quantities too small for general
cIrculatiOn; whilst the debates 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 to
party ends, and to matters of national policys
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far as they go, 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
Piles, for the despatch Of the public business whcb
can render the discharge Of public duty either safe
| Whpthpr N fbpip h,,,,-
| self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts We shall make an 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, methodica 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 en-
tent at least-apurt from, and independently 10
any party or personal interest or question what
ever.
1t is known to most OF those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor was Audi.
tor Of the Post-Offce 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 en-
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
who carry il on. Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he fatters 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 civility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonul inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Ofice and
other branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
-. IL. ..ca.t =
ton, and for impsriing minute and Illustrative in
sructon, 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 10
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the orders, notices and changes issued, or made
by them during the preceding month. Tables a
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three years. Ii 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 Of
fees in the tables which no longer in opefation
and Offices in operation which are not in the tables
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 regulations,
of which many postmasters and others IRE 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 misd
rection, remaing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
of full and exact knowledge, for shich we have
| provided and for which we engage, every intelI-
gent postmaster can estimate for HIMSELF
| These advantages alone and independently of all
others, are worth many times the price charge
for the paper, and will, 1t is hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels just pride in his office or
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office system-at once
| to subscribe. The same considerations apply o
the orders and notices, decisions, and Instructors
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
departments, and the same course is intended in
| respect to them. Notices Of the decisions of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questionu
of official duty national interest," will find place
! in this pay,r.