The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-16
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL .1DYERIISER.


AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
Il r To shou ,uhai is dons aud mhat should be done
in cDice.=SI sa
PETER G. WAsHrEcroN, ri,o,s.,d p,o,,;>,o,,
CHARLES M. WnLARp, """"'' ""' 'Hp' "'o' .
Terms The United STATES Postal Guide aud
Official Advertiser" containing about 30 spper-royal
ociapo pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per anntn, payable in adpance--or Gvs
dollars for SIR copies ordered
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which now embark, and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement
and sample of the papers that to follow, tas
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
zation, 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
auate i'm 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 volumno,ls
and are printed in quantities 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 policy
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
pies, for the despatch Of the public business which
can render the discharge of public duty either safe
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 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 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 Posl-Ofice 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 fol
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 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 asssduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Office and
vtner branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages fol
| reaching the various sources OF administrative nc
tion and for imparting 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 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. TaUies 1
| Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three years. 1t il a
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
| hitherto there has been no remedy, that i'm 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 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
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 msdi
rection, remailing, doubt confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for which we hav.
provided, and for which we engage, every intelII-
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, indHce every
postmaster who feels a 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 considerations apply t o
the orders and notices, DECISIONS and instruction
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, i'll cases turning upon questions
of official duty or nationalnterest, will find plac
in this papsr.