The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-22
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OPFJCL9L .gDyERTJSER

j. To shOw Uhai IS done, and rhat should be done
- ia qDies.-su
CHARLES M. W mISrU Editors and PropristOrs
Terms. =" The United States Postal Guide and
Dieiat advertiser, containing about 80 spper-royal
oetaoo pages, Is published ,p0illhiu for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annuni, payable in aduanee-or fps
dollars for stT copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement C.
and sample of the papers that to follow, t as
for its no less purpose, than to impart in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Officer
and gents 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 hth-
erto Leen vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instrur
lions, more less comprehensive, and 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 voluminous!
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
marty ends, and to matters of national policy5
These publications III their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far as they CO. and
some of them indispensable; but there is much
that do reach the hands Of all, if they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods and exam.
pies, for the despatch OF the public business which
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 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
tent ut least-apart from, and independently !;
any party or personal interest or question what
ever.
1t is known to most OF those to VIII
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. HI
tered the department fourteen years since, and for
many years previously, had been, first in the War
Department, ard subsequently In the Treasury.
lie has therefore had the best opportunities for
understanding the arrangements OF business in all
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry 1t on. Since his official connection with
preserved the respect and regard Of most OF the
preset incumbents of the departments, and is on
becoming terms OF intercourse and ciyIity with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduouslv
engaged for several years, in stud wing, by per-
| sonai 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 nc
ton, and for lmpartiny 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 "a
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 n
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws ana
Regulations are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once IN two or three years IL is a
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been remedy that i'm one
month from the time of these issues, there are of !
fees in the tables which longer I'm operations
and Offices in operation which not in the tablesi
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
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 nodi6I
| cations, made each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postniasters full and
exact information upon both subjects nm 10 and
for time being. How much Of the present misdi-
rection, remang, 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 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, AMI
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at once
to subscribe. The same considerations apply tc
the orders and notices. decisions, and instruction.
OF the War, Navy, Treasury, State and Interior
departments, and the same course is intended i'm
| respect to them. Notices Of the decisions of the
| Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questiona
Of official duty or national interest, will find place
in this paper. -