The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-04
washinston, Saturday, january 4 1861.

v q 1851. l
UNITED srArt nHE po.rA,. au,np.
AND OFFICIAL .aDvERTYSER. 81
lHyeTs shoW whst y dos. and whss should X done,
in q0fee.=Su gspNi 2
iPETER e. WAsHrNcToN, RI. ,uu..-..',
ICKARLEs M. WILLARD, AsH'0'' a"" ''e'''s'
TkRNs. -" The United States Postal Guide and
lesal advertiser" containing about % svpsr-royal
eetsvo pages, u pxbiisAsd ,sonthtv Jfbr ONE DOL
lAn ONLY, per armSsn, peysbie IN adrance-or fire
do9srs for sx copies ordered AZ any one time.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
| The enterprise in which we now embark, and
Of which this paper is at once the commandment,
and sample of the papers that are 70 follow, has
fstrnction, in the general and detail to the Officers
an& Agents Of the American public in respect both
toSheir duties and their rights, and 70 make them
1npd the people at large, acquainted with the organ
ixa>ion, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hith-
erto Teen no vehise for the regular and proper
communication Of information Of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instruc-
ti0ns moro or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, IN the absence Of the construction OF those
Laws, - applied 70 particular case, and of dstaiIs
structions ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported TO Congress, are too voluminous,
and printed in quantities too small for general
circulAtioai 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 TO
party ends, and to matters Of national policy
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
pes for the despatch Of the public business which
can render the discharge of public duty either safe
or easy, whether in respect to theincumbent 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, methodica, and ex-
) 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 ex-
4 tent at least-apart from, and independently Of
any party or personal interest or question what
ever. "a
! It 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
Iof 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, and subsequently in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities for
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry on. Since his official connection with
the Government ceased he 1atters 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
Al l.
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. II is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources Of administrative ac-
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 70 az 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. 1t is
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 ope alton,
and Offices in operation which are 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,
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, mnde 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 presen, nist,i-
rection, remaing, 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 intelIi-
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 ia hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels just pride in his office, or
la patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at once