The southern press., 1852-04-20
PREPARATORY NOTICE. n

sas.H
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement,
and sample of the papers that are to follow, kas
for ts aim no less purpose, than TO impart in
struction, in the general and detail, to the Officer
and Agents 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 instrue
tons, more or less comprehensive and atintervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quate, in the absence Of the constf0ction "a those
Laws, applied particular and OF details
and Illustrations to make the regulations and In.
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminousl
and printed in quantities too small for general
crcuation whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries of the press upon their proceeds
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 pational poiieys
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves as far as they CO. and
some Of them Indispensable; but there is much
that do not reach the hands Of all, if they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
pies, for the despatch Of the public business whck
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, methodical, 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
tent at least-apart from, and independently to
any party or personal interest or question what
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 postmasters and contractors, he has had
direct intercourse in person or by letter. He rem
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 for
understanding the arrangements Of business in all
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry il 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 civlity with
them all ). The Junior Editor has been asssiduousy
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details Of the Post-0ffice and
olner branches Of the public business. IL Is with
this stock Of experience and these advantages for
reaching the various sources OF administrative
ton and for imparting minute and illustrative in
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that we challenge your confidence
and se,ictt your support and p-tresaegsa
We have fixed upon the 18th Of each month an
the day for the publication of paper, 20 as to
afford time for obtaining from the departments
all the ORDERS notices and changes issued, or made
1 by hem during the preceding month. Tables az
| PoR Offices, and compilations OF the Laws and
4 -. ..1l III ar
1 ment only once in two or three years. IL 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 are no 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,
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 modifi
AN ons 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, remaiing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
| of full and exact knowledge, for which we have
proyided, and for which we engage. every iltelli-
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 IL is hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels just pride IN his Office or
4 patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office system-at once
| TO subscribe The same considerations apply 20
the orders and notices, decisions, and instructors
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, 3nd Interior
Departments, and the same course is1ntended in
| resnect 10 them Notices Of the decisions Of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon questions
of Official duty or national interest, will find place
| in this papsr.