The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-09

LAR ONLY, per annssns, payable in adva,sce-or fps
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
Of which this paper 10 at once the commencement
and a sample of the papers that are TO follow, as
for its aim no less purpose, than TO impart in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Ohcer
and Agents of the American public, in respect both
to thesf duties and their rights and to make them,
and the people at large, acquainted With the organ
izaton, decisions and asai0n of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hith-
er.o .Leen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of information Of this kind. The
publication Of the Laws and the issue Of instru~
TONS more or less comprehensive. and at intervals
mere or less extended. have proved wholly made
uuate in the absence Of the construction Of those
Laws, as applied to particular cases. and Of details
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too yoluminoua
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 policyS
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves as far they 60, and
some Of them Indispensable; but there is much
that do not reach the hands Of ALL nor If they did,
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 ne
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 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 40, to some es
tent at least--apart from, and independently to
any party or personal interest or question what
ever.
II ia known to most Of those to whom this pa
per will be sent, that the Senior Editor was AUDI
tor of the Post-Otfice 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 years previously, had been, first in the Wsr
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury
He has therefore had the best opportunities fol
underst standing 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 fatters 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 clvility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonaf inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Ofice and
v.ner branches Of the public business. 1t ia with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
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 confidence
and solicit your support ana pa patrS e
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 mad.
by them during the preceding month. Tables Of
Post Offices, and compilations OF the Laws and
Regulations, 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 m one
month from the time of these issues, there are Of
6ces in the tables which are 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 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 modihs
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to posmasters 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 hav
provided, and for which we engage. every intelll
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
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office system-at once
to subscribe. The same considerations apply to
the orders and notices, decisions, and Instructions
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 sationali interest, will find place
in this paper.
TVyHE undersigned, committee Of publication, on
il the part Of the Muscogee and Russell Agricul-
tural Society, respectfully invite public attention