The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and OFFICIAL .aDVERTySER

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER
~ 10 Jop tohat Is done, aud ishat should be done
in oDiee.=kU,
CHAnL.s M w.t. Editors and Propyietors
| lEhms, =" The United States Postal G,,id, and
e,Ucidl ddpsytiser, containing about "a spneyo,oI
octapo pages, Is published monfhIu 6r osr non
Ian Only per annu'n, payable ia adrancs-or fus
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 are TO follow as
for It's aim no less a purpose, than to impart in
structon 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
zation, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hth-
| erto teen vehicle for the regular and proper
| communication Of information Of this kind The
publication Of the Laws and the issue of instruc
tions, more 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
structionB intelliglble. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too youmno,,s.
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 poeyI
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 not 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
render the discharge of public duty either safe
or eaHy, whether III respect to the incumbent him.
self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts. We shall make 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, methodcal, and ex
act shall make the administrative duties of tho
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 ut east-apart from, and independently I
any party personal interest 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-Ofice Department until the month
| of November last; with by far the larger portion
of both postmaaters 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 Wsr
| 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 Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he hatters 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-
sonai inquiry and exami naton 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
| reaching the various sources of administrative ac
ton, and for imparting 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 G.
| Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart.
| ment only once in two three years. 1t is a
matter OF inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been no remedy, that in one
month from the time of these ssues, there are of
hcer in the tables which longer in operation
and Offices in operation which not in the tables
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,
QnV increase OF the evil OF ellHef hlnu, ana from
the time another issue shall be made, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modh
cations, made IN each month, and by being filed
and preserved will afford to postmaster 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
mposltion will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for which we have
provided, and for which we engage, every lntelll-
cent 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 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-at once
| to subscribe The considerations apply to
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction.
of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Intero
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 place
4 Il.