The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-11
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER
AZ 10 show what is done, and ,ohat should be done
in o6fce.=SU
rn " WXsnrSsrON' Editor, and pronri,,or,.
CHARLES M. WILLARD, E"'0' una r'0p''e'0T''
| TERMs.-' The United States Portal G,1id. and
Official .adrerser," containing obout 90 ,vpsr-yovai
ocfauo pages, Is published monthly Jbr ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per a',rtnt, payable in advance-or fire
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 to follow, as
for its ann no less purpose, than to mpart in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents of the American public, in respect both
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 lnstrue
tons more less comprehe nsive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
| quae, in the absence of the construction Of those
Laws applied to particular cases, and Of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annual reported to Congress, are too voluminous
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 10
marty ends, and to matters of national policyl
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves far they go, 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
Piles, 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 an honest effort to supply
this vacuum, and to provide for these necessities
| If succeed N rendering the functions of the
| primary Officer more uniform, mehodical, 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 ey-
tent at least--apart from, and independently to
any party or 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 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
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 incumbenis of the departments, and is on
becoming terms Of intercourse and civility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduou,ly
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonnl inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the POst-Of and
otner branches Of the public business 1t is with
this stock of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative
ton, and for impartins 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 az
the day for the publication Of paper, so as to
! afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the orders, notices and changes issued, or made
by them during the preceding month. Tables @
| 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
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been 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 three thousand
Offices of the two descriptions. In like manner
laws have been passed and regulations established
since the issue of the last volume or regulations,
| of which many poStmasers 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 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
rection, remai!ing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for winch we have
provided, and for which we engage. every intellI-
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 induce every
postmaster who feels just pride in his office or
patriotic regard for the credit, pros perity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at nee
to subscribe. The same considerations apply,so
the orders and notices, decisions, and instructed
of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
departments, and the same course is intended
respect to them. Notices Of the decisions of tn
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon question
of official duty national interest, will find p'a
in this par.
TuNHE undersigned, committee OF plolo.,