The southern press., 1851-10-25
UNITED STATES POSTAL Guide
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER

w Washington Slly'
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and oPfTCLaL ADVERTISER.
hf- 10 ShoU uhat IS done, and uhat should be done
IN qBiee.-sL
IErER G WAsHrsGToR, ~
CnARLEs Nj. WLLARp, Editors and PropristorSi
IlHms. =" The United States Posta Guido and
'ye'u' .'apefhser containing about 80 spper-royal
oefaro pages, IS published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annun,, payable in adranee-or dr
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise IN which we now embark and
OF which this paper IL at once the commencement C.,
aud sample OF the papers that 10 follow / as
for it's ann no less purpose, than To nnpsrt in
struction, in the general aud detail, to the Officer
and gents Of the American public, in respect both
10 their duties aud their ghts, and To make them
and the people at large, acquainted with the organ
izntion, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hh-
erto Leen no vehicle for the regular aud proper
communication of information Of this kind The
publication of the Laws and the issue of Insrur
tions, less compreh ensive, aud at intervals
more or ess 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, too volunlinous
and 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 10
party ends, and to matters of national poficys
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, nor if they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods and exam.
Piles, forthe despatch Of the public business which,
render the discharge Of public duty either safe
or easy, whether IN respect To the incumbent him
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, methodical, and eY
act, 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 ey
tent at least-apart from, and independently
any party or personal interest question what
ever. .
Ii is known TO most Of those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor was Audi
tor of the Post-Ofice Department until the month
of November last; with by far the larger portion
Of both postmnsters 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.
understanding the arrangements of business in ali
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry it on. Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he hatters himself he has
preserved the respect and regard Of most OF the
preset incumbents of the departments, and is on
becoming terms of intercourse and civility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduously
engaged for several years, In studying, by per-
| sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Ofice and
,I..., ,hs, IL, Il
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
| reaching the various sources of administrative ac,
tion, and for mparting minute and illustrative n
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 II
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the orders, notices and changes issued or mad
by them during the preceding month. Tables q.
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two three years Ii ia 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 are off
fees in the tables which are longer IN ope4 atons
aud offices in operation which in the tabless
At this time there are 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 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, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modihs
cations, made IN each month, and by being filed
aud 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
impositon will be saved by the progressive state
of full and sxuct knowledge. for which we have
provided, and for which we engage, every intelli-
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, it IL hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels a just pride in his Office r
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at once
to subscribe. The same considerations apply U
the orders and notices. decisions, aud instructiorl
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interio,
departments, and the same course is intended in
respect 20 them. Notices Of the decisions of, the
Supreme Court, IN turning upon questions
of official duty or national interest, will hnd aplacs
ia this papsr.