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

UNITED STATES POSTAL UIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
H. To shO~ Uhaf is done, and ,oha should be done
in o0ice..SI
Cn.a,rs M WmS..u Editors aud Proprieiors.
Terms. =" The United States Postal Guide and
Official .1doertiser, containing about 30 Spper-royal
ocfapo pages, is published monthiy for
LAR ONLY, per annun, payable in aduaace--or jips
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which now embark and
OF which this paper is ut once the encemeri,
and sample of the papers that are to follow, b as
for its aim no less purpose, than to impart in
slructon, in the general and detail to the Officer
and Agents 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
izaton, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hith-
erto Leen 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 particular cases, and Of details
and Illustrations to make the regulations and in
structons Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminots
and printed in quantities too small for general
the commentaries of the press upon their proceed,
ngs, 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 they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
Piles, 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, methodical, 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 ey
tent at least-apart from, and independently to
any party personal interest 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 PostO 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
He has therefore had the best opportunities for
understanding the arrangements Of business in all
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 ncumbents of the departments, and is on
becoming terms of intercourse and civty with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduousy
engaged for several years, In studying, by per-
sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Olfce and
Ia ,,..x Il
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative nc
ton and for imparting 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 as
the day for the publication Of our paper 80 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 O
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only in two or three years. II ia u
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 no longer in operation,
and Offices in operation which are not in the tables
AT this time there are perhaps over 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 mod6ss
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
rection, remailing, 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 inte
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
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office sysem--at ono
to subscribe. The same considerations apply 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, in turning upon questions /,
of official duty or national interest, will find plac
in this paper.