The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-11
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
~ 10 shoio uhat Is done, and ,chat should be done
D - .. ia QGics=SU
CHARLES Nj. Wmrssn Editors and Proprtetoys}
IERms.-" The United States Postal Guide and 4
tW'cta' .ddcerftser, containing about 40 spneryouaI
octaoo pages, IS published nlonthlv s,r oNr MOI
LAR ONLY, per dnnuni, payable IN aduanee-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 tas
for its aim no less 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
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 instruc
lions, more or less comprehensive, and at intervals
moro 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
annually reported to Congress, are too vouminous;
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 to
party ends, and to matters Of national policy6
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.
pes for the despatch Of the public business which
can render the discharge of public duty either SAT.
or easy, whether IN respect to the incumbent hms
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 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 least-apart from, and independently
any party 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 Audi:
tor of the Post Office 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 it on. 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-
9 sonnl inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the POST Office 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 impartlng 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 az
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 or
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two three years Ii 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 longer in operations
and offices in operation which not in the tabes(
AT this time there are perhaps 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,
increase OF the evil OF eitner KIND, ana from
the time another issue shall be made, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections and modif 4
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postmasers full and
, exact information upon both subjects, up TO and
for time being. How much of the present misdi,,
rection, remaing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for which have
provided, and for which we engage, every inteI-
| 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
a patriotic regard for the credit prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system---at
to subscribe. The same considerations apply u
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction.
of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and interioi
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
in this pap,r. H.nT