The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-04
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
ann oPFICL4L ADVERTISER

AND OFFICIAL .4DVERTISER.
IST To sllo,c ,chat is DONE and iohat should be don
in o6iee.sSK
PETER G. WAsHrNGToN, Ed;,ors and p,oo,.;.,o..,
CHARLES M. WILLARD, : ''''' ' 'VP' 'o'o' .
TERMS =" The United States Postal Guide and
Official .adpertiser containing about 81 srper-royai
oetauo pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annt,n, payable in adranee-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 u purpose, than to impart in
structon, 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 Eeen no vehicle for the regular and proper
commu oication of information of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of lnstrur
TONS more or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
ouate in the absence of the construction OF those
Laws as applied to particular cases, and of details
aud illustrations to make the regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress- are too vouminous.
and are printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries of the press upon their proceed
of the Government, besides turning mostly upop
general principles, address themselves only 10
marty ends and to matters of national pollcyl
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, if they did,
do thew furnish those rules, methods, and exam
pIes 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 we succeed in rendering the functions of the
primary Offices more uniform, methodical 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
tent at least--apart from, and independently to
any party or personal interest or question what
ever.
II is known to most Of those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor was Audss
tor of the Post-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. lie en-
tered the department fourteen years since, and for
MANY wears previously, had been, first IN the Wer
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities ioi
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 flatters 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 civiity with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
engaged for several years, IN studying, by per-
sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daiIy routine and details of the Post-Ofice and
,,tner branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative &c
ton and for imparting minute and illustrative in
structon 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, 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 4
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Reoulations are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three years. 1t Is .
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 are 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
since the issue of the last volume or regulations,
of which many postmasters ana others are wholly
IGNORANT We propose TO prevent, for the present,
increase or the eFl Vi eltici hiHu, anu iioII
tbe 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 nisdi
rection, remailing, doubt, confusion, error, and
;mnositon, will be saved by the progressive stats
oP 'fnlI and exact knowledge, for which we have
nrovided and for which we engage, every lntellI
rent postmaster can estimate for himself.
These advantages alone and independently Of all
others. are worth many times the price charge
for the paper, and will, it is hoped, induce every
nostmaster who feels just pride IN his office or
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
eaic;encv of the whole Post Office system--at
70 subscribe. The same considerations apply o
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction
of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
denartments and the same course IS intended IN
respect to them. Notices of the decisions of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questions
of official duty or national interest, Will ma piac
in this papsr.