The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-06
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
and OFFICIAL ADVERTISER

UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
~ 10 shoW what is done, and ,ohat should be done
in office. 80
PETER G. WAsHrNGroN, -.
Terms. &c The United States Postal Guide and
Official Advertiser" containing about 80 spper-roua
ocfaro pages, IS published monthly for ONE DoL-
LAR ONLY, per a,,nutn, payable in adpaaee--or fps
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which 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 purpose than to impart in
struction in the general and detail to the Officer
and gents 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
zation, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments 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
tions more or less comprehensive, end at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence of the construction Of those
Laws as applied TO particular cases, and of details
and illustrations to make the regulation. ay in
strucuons intt.dgbe. The valuable d1rumerla
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminoUs
and are printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
ngs, 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 far as they go, and
some of them indispensable; but there is much
that do reach the hands Of all, nor if thew did
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
plies, for the despatch Of the public business which
can render the discharge of public duty either safe
uhafh in tn tl,ain ,ba
self, or the department or bureau under which he
acts We shall make 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 ex
act, 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 ev
tent at least-apart from, and indepedent
any party or personal interest or question
ever.
1t ia known to most Of those TO whom .
per will be SENT that the Senior Editor was
tor of the Post-Ofice Department until the mo
of November last; with by far the larger porte
of both postmasers 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 Wer
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities for
understanding the arrangements OF business in all
who carry it Since his official connection with
| the Government ceased, he hatters himself he h.
preserved the respect and regard Of most Of tn
| preseGt incumbents of the departments, and is or
| becoming terms Of intercourse and cvIlity with
them all The Junior Editor has been assslduou,Iy
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sona inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Olfice and
otner branches of the public business. It IS with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
| he rio IF adj patra
ton, and for mpartlng 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 day for the publication Of our paper, as to
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the ORDERS notices and changes issued or made
| 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 no remedy, that in 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 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 postmasers and others wholly
ignorant. We propose to prevent, for the present,
nnv increase Of the evil Of either kind, and from
| the time another issue shall be made, our paper
will furnish the additions, corrections, and modf5
! cations made in each month, and by being fled
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, 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 intelll-
| gent 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
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
to subscribe. The same considerations apply
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 place
in this paper.