The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-08
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE


AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
Il = To sholo chat is done, and tchai should be done
in oIEte. esI
PETER q. WAsHrNGroN, r,;,.,
CHARLES M. WILLARD, H""o''""" ''P''e'o'''
TERMS. =" The United States Postal Guide and
Official advertiser" containing about - sppe-ropai
oetapo pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per ann,up, payable in adpance--or five
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, as
for its aim no less purpose, than to impart in
slruction, 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
zation, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments Of their Government. There has hith-
erto Eeen vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information of this kind The
publication OF the Laws and the issue of instrur
tons, or less comprehensive and at I'M ervah,
more 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 20 make the regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminous
and 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 to
party ends, and to matters of national policyy
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 thew 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
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, m ethOdical and eY
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
tent at least--apart from, and independently to
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-Ofhce 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 70,
understanding the arrangements OF business in all
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry it Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he hatters himself he ha.
preserved the respect and regard of most of tn.
present incumbents of the departments, and is or
becoming terms of intercourse and civility will
them all The Junior Editor has been asssiduousl,
engaged for several years, in studying, by per
sonaI inquiry and examination, the practical am
daily routine and details of the Post-Office an
vtner branches OF the public business. 1t is wit
this stock OF experience, and these advantages fo
reaching the various sources of administrative az
ton, and for imparting minute and illustrative il
struction, and valuable periodical and statistics
information, that we challenge your confidenc
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 t,
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the orders, notices and changes issued, or mad
by them during the preceding month. Tables O
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws an
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three ys.stb. 1t is
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for wbic
hitherto there has been no remedy, that in on
month from the time of these issues, there are OF
fees in the tables which no longer in operation
and offices in operation which not in the tables
At this time there are perhaps over three thousan
offices Of the two descriptions. In like name
laws have been passed and regulations estabIishc
since the issue of the last volume Of regulations
| of which many postmasters and others are who'll,
ignorant. we propose 10 prevent, Tor the present
| nvncrease Of the evil OF either kind, and from
the time another issue shall be made, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modifi
| cations made in each month, and by being FLEE
and preserved, will afford to postmasters full ant
exact information upon both subjects, up to ant
for time being. How much of the present misdi
rection, remailing, doubt, confusion, error, AM
imposition, will be saved by the progressive stat
Of full and exact knowledge, for which we hav
provided, and for which we engage, every intelIl
gent postmaster estimate for himself.
These advantages alone and independently Of al
others, worth many times the price we charg
for the paper, and will, it is hoped indace ever
postmaster who feels just pride in his Office o.
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, ant
efficiency of the whole Post Office system--at ono
to subscribe. The same considerations apply t,
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interio
departments, and the same course is intended i,
respect to them. Notices of the decisions Of tn
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon question
of official duty or national interest, will find pac
in this paper.