The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-13

~ 80 "o" "nat Is done, aud iohat should be done
PETER G. WAsnrNoTom'
CHARLEs M. WILLARD, Editorsqnd Proprietors
Terms. -" The United States Postal G,aae and
eW'c'ai .ddpertiser,' containing about 30 spo,ryo,a
oetsoo pages, Is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per anaun, payable in aduanee-or fin q
dollars for sir copies ordered.
| PREPARATORY NOTICE
The enterprise In which we now embark, and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement I.
and sample of the papers that are to follow, as
| for it's aim 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-
erto leen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information Of this kind The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instrur
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, 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 voluminouss
and are printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the dehates 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 %
party ends, and to matters of national policy
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
Piles, for the despatch Of the public business which
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.
| IL we succeed in rendering the functions Of the
primary offices more uniform, methodcal, 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 ex
tent at least-apart from, and Independently
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-Ofice 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
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 it 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 civity with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduously
engaged for several years, III studying, by per-
sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Oifice 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 impartng minute and Illustrative M
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 mad,
by them during the preceding month Tables oi
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three years 1t 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 OFF
fees in the tables which longer in operations
and Offices in operation which in the tabess
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 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 modi6
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 misdi
recton, remailing, 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 intellI-
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
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office systen--at once
| to subscribe. The same considerations apply S
the orders and notices, decisions, and instructorf
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interiot
| departments, and the same course is intended in
respect to them. Notices of the decisions OF the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questions
of official duty national interest, will find place