The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-17
UNITED STATES POSTAL & UIDE
AND OFFICIAL .4DgERTYSE

AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISERS.
= To sho,c iuhat is do,lr and hai should be done
in ogics.@S~E
ca. n "X W,,S Editors and Propris.ors
TERMs. -" The United States Postal Guide aud
Official .4aoerser," containing about 80 sppsr-roya
oetaro pages, IS published monthly Jbr ONE poL-
LAR ONLY, per SnHuni, payable IN adpance--0r fire.
dollars for sir copies ordered.
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 as
for its aim no less purpose, than to mpnrt 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 organ
ization, decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments of their Government. There has hith-
erto Teen vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of information of this kind. The
publication Of the Laws and the issue of nstruc
lions, more or less comprehensive, aud at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
quaie, in the absence Of the construction OF those
Laws, applied to particular cases, and Of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and in
struciions ineligible. The valuable documents
annual reported to Congress are too volumnolis.
and are printed in quantities small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries Of the press upon their proceed.
Of the Government, besides turning mostly upon
general principles, address themselves only to
marty ends, and to matters of national policyi
These publications in their various forms are
highly usef,n in themselves far 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
ples for the despatch Of the public business which
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, 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 Aud,
tor of the Post-Ofice Department-unt the month
of November ast with by far the larger portion
of both postmasters 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 Wor
Department, ard subsequently in the Treasury
He has therefore had the best opportunities fol
understanding the arrangements OF business in ali
who carry it on. Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he 1atters 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 civty with
them all The Junior Editor has been asssiduou,lv
engaged for several years. in studying, by per-
sonai inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post Office and
v,ner branches Of the public business. 1t is with
this stock OF experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative &C
| ton and for imparting minute and illustrative in
struction, and valuable periodical and statistical
information, that we challenge your confdenc,
| and solicit your support and patronage.
| We have fixed upon the 18th Of each month as
the day for the publication of paper, so as to
afford time for obtaining from the apartments
all the orders, notices and changes issued or mad.
by them during the preceding month. Tables Il
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart.
ment only once in two three years. 1t is a
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 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
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 modif.
cations, made in each month, and by being filed
and preserved, will afford to postmasers full and
exact information upon both subjects, up to and
| for time being. How much of the present misdi
reclion, remailing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
of full and exact knowledge, for which we havs
provided, and for which we engage. every intelIl-
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, ndace every
| postmaster who feels just pride in his Office or
patriotic regard for the credit, prosperity, and
| efficiency of the whole Post Office system-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 questions
of official duty national Interest," will find plac
| in this papsr.
|