The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-06

4 ~ =
seso' '1dUerf'ser containing about 80 spper-roual
octdpo pages, Is publishsd nsonthIu Ar oNr nor,
Ian ONLY per annu'n, payable in aduanos-or five
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark and
Of which this paper is at once the commencement /,
and sample Of the papers that to follow, as
for it's 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 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-
srto Teen vehicle for the regular and proper
&nunication Of information Of this kind The
publication of the Laws and the issue of nstruc
tons, mere less compreh ensive and at 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 voluminousi
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 10
party ends, and to matters of national poiieyl
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves as far as they CO. 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 whick
can 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 ex
act, shall make the administrative duties of the
departments moro 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 wha
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
| the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry II 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 asssiduouslv
| cnBdSeu lOr several years, III studying,
sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post Office and
other branches Of the public business. IL is with
this stock OF experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources OF administrative &C
ton, and for impartng minute and illustrative in
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that 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 mad,
by them during the preceding month. Tables or
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once In two or three years Ii 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 are of
fees in the tables which no longer in operation
and Offices in operation which 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 postmastsrs and others wholly
ignorant We propose 10 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 fled
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, remaiing, 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 intelll-
gent 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 r
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system once
TO subscribe. The same considerations apply u
the orders and notices, decisions, and Instruction.
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 question:
Of official duty national interest, will find placs
in this papvr.
War undersigned, COMMITTEES Of publication on
IL the part Of the Muscogee and Russell Agricul.
tural Society, respectfully invite public attention
to the following prospectus of MONTHLY
JOURNAL, to be published in this city under the
auspices OF the above named association.
The work will be devoted to the interests of .4g-
riouiiurs and Horticulture, Domestic and Rural