The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-27
WASHINGTON CITY, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY ~ 1851
UNIFIED STATES POSTAL q uIDE.

e THE
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE.
IND OFFfCLdL ADVERTISERS. ~
s. To show what il donx, smd nhaf should BE- done,
\ il q0ics.-ssT
lcmnSnr, NJ S W,ssso EAs.os and pywreiors
/ TxnMs. 80 Ths T,,it.d S,4se. Postal Guide and
tltkiI Advertiser, eeStainisg stosa % srpu~omi
ocfaro pages. Is published nsOnhly Jjbr ore pcl-
tAR ONLY, per a,tnua. payable In adbdmrs--or fire
4 dsudrs for sir copies ovdsrsd at any one fine
II PREPARATORY NOTACE. M
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
lof which this paper is ut the commencement,
and sample Of the papers thai are 10 follow las
for iis aim no less a purpose, than 10 inpart in
struction, in the general and DETAIL to the Officers
and Agents ofthe American public, in respect both
to their duties and their rights, and 10 make them,
and the people at large, acquainted with heorgan
ixation, 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 ut intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence OF the construction Of those
Laws, as applied 10 particular cases, and Of details
and Illustrations to make the regulations and in
structious Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress-, are too youminous,
and are printed in quantities too small for general
,circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries of the press upon their proceed
Iings, 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 policy
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far as they 60, and
some Of them indispensablei but there il much
THAT do not reach the hands OF all nor they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
pies, for the despatch Of the pubic busines0which
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 10 supply
this vacaum, and to provide for these necessities.
If we succeed in rendering the functions of the
primary offices more uniform, methodicsi, and ex-
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 Ieast--apar from, and independently OF
any party or personal interest or question what
: ever, wi .t
1 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-Ofhce Department until the month
of November last; with by far the larger portion
of both pos.mas,ers and contractors, be 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
8 Department, ard subsequently IN the Treasury.
I He has therefore had the best opportunities for
understanding the arrangements Of husness in all
1.-THE departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry il 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 asssiduousy
engaged for several years, in studying, by per
y sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details Of the Post-OAice and
: other branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages fol
reaching the various sources of administrative ac
ton, and for impartne minute and illustrative In
" sraction, 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 andchang~s issued, made
D by them during the preceding month. Tables of
J Post Offices, and compilations Of the Laws and
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
} msnt only once in two or three years. 1t is a
matter Of Inconvenience and complaints 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 are longer in operation
and Offices in operation which not in the tables
At this time there are perhaps over three thousand
D Offices Of the two descriptions. In like manner
since the issue Of the last vnume OF regulations
} Of which many postmastsrs and others IRE wholly
ignorant We propose 10 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 modf
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford TO postnasters full and
7, Eexnci information upon both subjects, up to and
/ for time being. How much OF the present misdi-
rection, remniling, 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-
II cent postmaster can estimate for himself. ~
D. These advantages alone and independently of all
others are worth many times the price we charge
for the paper, and will, il il hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels just pride in his Office, or
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
"A efficiency of the whole Post Office sys,emat once
TO subscribe The same considerations apply to
the orders ard notices. decisions, and instructions
OF the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
ldepartments, 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 or national interest, will find place
in this papAr. :.
i A depxftment Of our paper addressing itself not
/, merely to postmasters and other officers Of the
Government but to all other citizens who give at
ention to the affairs Of the nation and the progress
and development Of the untry, will embrace IN
condensed form The matters nunmit'e8 70, or aris.
ing in Congress. AT each session vast deal OF
valuable information is communicated to Con-
gress. by the several departments and their subor
ldinate bureaus, and profound and comprehensive
reports are made by committees Of both Houses.
But She great mass Of the community know moth
ipr Of the &C ntents of these documents and re-
ports, except the brief notices OF them, which
Z from time to time appear in the public papers.
The standing number printed of each document
and report, ID only twelve hundred in the Senate.
and fourteen hundred in the House Of Representa-
tives, which at once shows the impraccability OF
their dissemination. The ApvxRTrsER will con-
tain short abrdgmenh or analysis OF all these
: documents and reports, and the compcpd will
itherefors not only prove exceedingly useful and
:..s,;,. IN iise[f bnf will furnish an ensy ind ex