The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-04
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
To show ,chat is done, and 'ohat should be done
in oDce.sSI
c n.Eh - NJ wNSIrSaroS' Editors and propistor
TERMS" The United States Postal Guide aud
0tciai Adpertser," containing about - spper-royai
ocfaco pages, IS published monthly FOR ONE
LAR ONLY, per annltn, payable in aduance--or five
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE
The enterprise in which we embark, and
OF which this paper IS ut once the commencement t,
and sample of the papers that are to follow, as
for its aim 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 hith-
erto Eeen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instrur
TONS more less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence OF the construction OF those
Laws applied to particulnr cnses, md of details
and illustrations to make she regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annual reported to Congress, are too voumnous,
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 to
party ends, and to matters of national policyl
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far they co. and
some of them Indispensable; but there is much
that do not reach the hands OF ALL if they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
ples for the despatch Of the public business which
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 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
act we shall make the administrative duties of tho
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 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 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.
| lie has therefore nau the pest opportunities tor
understanding the arrangements of business in ali
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry it on. Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he 1atters himself he has
preserved the respect and regard Of most OF the
present incumbens of the departments, and is on
becoming terms of intercourse and civiity with
| them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduously
| engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
| sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
| daily routine and details of the Post-Office and
olner branches Of the public business 1t is with
this stock OF experience, and these advantages fol-
reaching the various sources of administrative &C
ton, and for mparting minute and illustrative in
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that we challenge your confdenc,
and solicit your support and patronage
! We have fixed upon the 18th OF each month as
the day for the publication of paper, n as to
afford time for obtaining from the deprD .ents
all the orders, notices and changes issued, or mad.
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 three years. 1t is a
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 are no longer in operation
and offices in operation which not in the tables
At this time there perhaps over three thousand
offices of the two descriptions. In like manner
laws have been passed and regulations established
of which many postmasters and others 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 modif.
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved will afford to postmasters full and
exact information upon both Subjects up to and
for time being How much of the present misdi
| recton 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 intelll.
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 or
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office system-at once
to subscribe The same considerations apply "a
the orders and notices, decisions and Instructors
of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
departments, and the same course is intended in
respect to them. Notices of the decisions OF the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon question.
of official duty national interest, will find place
| in this paper.