The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-14
PREPARATORY NOTICE.


PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
oP which this paper is ut once the commencement C.,
and sample Of the papers that are to follow, as
for its aim no less purpose, than to impart IN
struction, in the general and detaiiAGo the Omcer
and Agents of the American public, IN respect both
10 their duties and their rights and to make them
and the people at large, acquainted with the organ
ixation, 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 instruc
tons more or less comprehensive, and atintervats
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
o,ate in the absence Of the construction or those
Laws as applied to particular cases. and of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too youmnous
and are printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries Of the press upon their proceed
ines, and the proceedings of the Executive branch
of the Government, besides turning mostly upon
general principles, address themselves only to
marty ends, and to matters of national policy
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 thew furnish those rules, methods, and exam
ples for the despatch OF the public business whcf
can render the discharge of publcd duty either SAFE
or easy, whether in respect to the incumbent NM
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, methodicai, and ex
act we shall make the administrative duties OF the
departments more easy and effective ana thereny
nromote the real and substantial interests Of the
country And this we expect to do, to some ex
tent at least--apart from, and independently to
any party or personal interest or question " hat
ever.
II 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 postmasers and contractors, he has had
direct intercourse, person or by letter lie en-
tered the department fourteen years since, and or
many years previously had been, first IN the War
Department, ard subsequently in the treasury
TIe has therefore had the best opportunities fol
understanding the arrangements OF business IN al
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 or the
present incumbents of the departments, and is on
becoming terms of intercourse and civIlity with
them ALL The Junior Editor has been assslduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonaf inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Ofhce and
o,ner branches Of the public business. tbs with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages Tor
raach;no the various sources of administrative
ton and for impartng 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 dav for the publication Of paper, so as to
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the ORDERS notices and changes issued or mad.
NV them during the preceding month. Tables OF
Post Offices and compilations OF the Laws ana
Regulations, are issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or three years IL Is a
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been no remedy, that N one
month from the time of these issues, there are o.
6ces in the tables which are 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,
snv increase OF the evil Of either kind, and from
the time another issue shall be made, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modIh
cations made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postmasters full and
eYoct information upon both subjects, up to and
far time being How much of the present msdl
re.tion. remailing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, Tor which we nav
nroyded, and for which we engage, every intelil
rsnt nostmaster can estimate for himself.
These advantages alone and independentlyof all
others. are worth many times the price we charge
for the paper, and will, it is hoped, indace 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 once
70 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 questions
ofcffcial duty nationalinterest, will find place
in this papsr.
YuyHr undersigned, committee qualification, on
the part OF the Muscogee and Russell Agrcul.
tural Society, respectfully invite public attention
to the following prospectus of MONTHLY
JoIIRNAL. to be published in this city under the
.,.a.;eaa az The above named association.