The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-24
UNITED STATES POSTAL G UIDE

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OrFTCLaL ADVERTISER
u5@ To shoU what is done, and chat should be done
= IN cJice.=sU
PErER q. WAsHrsGroN,}
CHARLES M. WILLARD, { Ha"or'""a rroPTe'or'
TERMS. =" The United States Portal Guide and
Official .fdueriser," containing about 80 spper-rouai
ocfaro pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annuna, payable in adpance--or flo.
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark and
Of which this paper is ut once the commencement /,
and sample of the papers that are to follow, las
for its aim no less purpose, than to impart in
sruction, 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 or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate in the absence of the construction OF those
Laws, AZ applied 10 particular cases, and of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and In
structiOns Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminots
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 as far as they 60 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
r,ap f,rt dos trk NJ
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, m ethodicnl, 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 tho
country And this we expect to do, to some ev
tent at east-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 Aud,
tor of the Post-Offce 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 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 fatters 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 ciyity with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonni inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Otfice and
otner 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 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 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 II
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or 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 are not in the tables
At this time there perhaps over three thousand
Offices Of the two descriptions. In like manner
laws nave been paSSeu ana 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 modfs
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postmasiers 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 intel
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
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at ono e
to subscribe. The same considerations apply | q
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 cases turning upon question,
of official duty or national interest, will find pac.
in this papsr.