The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-08
PREPARATORY NOTICE.


PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
of which this paper is at once the commencement
and a sample Of the papers that are to follow, tas
for it's aim no less a 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
ization, decisions and action of the Executive de-
payments of their Government There has hith-
erto Eeen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instruc
tons, or less comprehensive. and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, 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
annually reported to Congress- are too voluminous,
and 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 poeyl
| These publications in their various forms are
| highly useful in themselves 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 they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
pies, for the despatch Of the public business whick
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 ethodical, 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 ex
| tent at least-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 AUDI
| 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. He
tered the department fourteen years since and for
many years previously, had been, first in the War
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
EIe has therefore had the best opportunities foi
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 latters 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 civility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssiduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Office and
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative &C
ton, and for impartng minute and Illustrative in
structon and valuable periodical and statisticaI
information, that we challenge your confidence
and solicit your support and patronage
We have fixed upon the 18th of each month
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 Of
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
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been remedy, that j., 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 not 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,
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 modiis.
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, remalng, doubt, confusion, error, ant
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
Of full and exact knowledge, for which we have
provided, and for which we engage. every intelIl
cent 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, indace every
postmaster who feels just pride in his Office or
a patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
efficiency of the whole Post Office sysen-at once
to subscribe. The same considerations apply to
the orders and notices, decisions and Instructors
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 national interest, will find plac
in this papsr.
ynyHE undersigned, committee Of publication on
! Il the part Of the Muscogee and Russell Agricul-
tural Society, respectfully invite public attention
to the following prospectus of MONTHLY
| JOURNAL, to be published in this city under the
| auspices Of the above named association.