The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-22
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
~ 10 Sow phat is done, aud ,ohat should be done
L. IN c6ee.=sH
CnAnlrs M W,r.n' Editors and ProprierOrs.
o.r tnMs - The United States Postal Guide and
Official ldpertser," containing about 30 spDerro,oI
oc'aoo pages, IS published monfhiy for ONE DOL
Ian oNLf' per annt'a, payable in aduance--or Gps
dollars for sr copies ordered
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise IN which we now embark, and
| OF which this paper is at once the commencement 4
and sample Of the papers that are to follow as
bfar It's ann no less purpose, than to impart in
structon in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents the American public, in respect 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 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 Instrur;
hons, more or less comprehensive, and 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
annual reported to Congress, are too vouminouss
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 principles, address themselves only 10
party ends, and to matters of national poiicys
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far as thew 90 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
pies, for the despatch Of the public business wlich
can render the discharge of public duty either safe
| whether a he pcu ,hapt
self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts. We shall make an honest effort to supplv
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 ey-
tent at east--apart from, and independently to
any party or personal interest question what
ever
1t is known to most Of those to whom this pa-
per will be SENT that the Senior Editor was Audrs
tor of the Post-Oflice 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 i'm all
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 on
becoming terms of intercourse and cviity with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
| engaged for several years, in studying by per-
| sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
| daily routine and details of the Post-Office and
| other branches Of the public business tits with
this stock OF experience, and these advantages for
| reaching the various sources of administrative ac
ton, and for imparfnS minute and Illustrative in
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
by them during the preceding month Tables of
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart-
ment only once In two or three years IL il a
matter of inconvenience and complaint for which
hitherto there has been remedy, that i'm one
month from the time of these issues, there are of
fees in the tables which longer in operation
and Offices in operation which not in the bless
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 modifr
cations, made m 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
recton, remaiing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
OF full and exact knowledge, for winch we have
provided, and for which we engage, every intelIl-
Ger matchmaker estimate for bimself
These advantages alone and Independently Of all
others, 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 to
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 questionn
of official duty national interest, will find a place
in this nater