The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND Official ADVERTISER.

|
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
IL To shoto what is done, and ,ohat should be don
IN oDice.=sU
PETER G. WAsHrNeroN, -.
CHARLES M. WILLARD, IaH0'sa"a rrop'1efors.
TERMS. 60 The United States Postal Guide and
Oictai Hdpertiser, containing about 80 spper-royal
octauo pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annitn, payable in adpance-or fvs
dollars for SIR copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which We embark, an
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 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 orgal
Zation, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government There has hita-
erto Eeen vehicle for the regular aud prope.
communication of information of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of nstrur
tons more 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
structons Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too voluminous
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 10
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 not reach the hands Of all, nor if they did,
do they furnish those rules, methods, and exam
Piles, 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 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, mehodical, and ey
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 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 was AUDI
tor of the Post-Otfice Department until the month
of November last; with by far the larger portion
of both posmasters 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, frstin the Wsr
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury.
2Ie has therefore had the best opportunities for
| understanding 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 faters himself he has
preserved the respect and regard of most OF the
| present ncumbents of the departments and is or
becoming terms of intercourse and civility with
them all. The Junior Editor has been asssduoua!
engaged for several years, in studying, by Nr.
sonaf inquiry and examination, the practice
| daily routine and details of the Post-Otfoe
orner branches Of the public business. 1t is aah
this stock Of experience, and these advantages tor
reaching the various sources of administrative nc
| ton, and for imparting minute and illustrative In
| struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
Information, that we challenge your confidence
! 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 C
| 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 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 tabl,s
At this time there perhaps over three THOUSAND
offices of the two descriptions. In like
laws have been passed and regulations establl
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
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 I,
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 we charge
| r.. nd ia med nd
lpostmaster who feels just pride in his Office or
"a patriotic regard for the credit prosperity, and
efficiency Of the whole Post Office systenn--at
| to subscribe. The considerations apply tic
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 national interest, will find place
in this pap,r.