The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-24
UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.

UNITED STATES POSTAL & UIDE
AND OFFICIAL ADVERTISER.
nFTo shoD phai is done, and ,chat should be done
in c6ice.=sN
PETER G. WAsHrNGroN, rU,o,p.
CHARLES M. WILLARD, H""'''""" rop''e'"'''
TERMS. -" The United States Postal Guide and
Official 4dUeriser," containing about 30 spperroyal
oetapo pages. is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per Gnnum, payable in adpance--or fps
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 IL purpose, than to mpart IN
structon, in the general and detail TO the Officer
aud 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-
izaton decisions and action of the Executive de-
partments Of their Government. There has hith-
erto Leen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication Of information Of this kind. The
publication of the Laws and the issue of instrur
tions more or less comprehensive, and at intervals
more or less extended, have proved wholly made
uuate i'm the absence Of the construction OF those
Laws, IN applied to particular cases aud Of details
and illustrations to make the regulations and in
structions Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress, are too youmino,s
and are printed in quantities too small for general
crcuation; 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 policy
These publications in their various forms are
highly useful in themselves as 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
Piles, for the despatch Of 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, methodical, 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 was Aud.
tor of the Post-Otfice 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. lie en-
tered the department fourteen years since, and for
many years previously, had been, first in the War
Department, ard subsequently IN the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities fol
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 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 civility with
them ALL The Junior Editor has been asssduously
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonal inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the Post-Ofiice and
utner 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 mparting 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, so to
afford time for obtaining from the departments
ali the orders, notices and changes issued, or mad.
by them during the preceding month. Tables #
Post Offices, and compilations of the Laws and
Regulations, issued by the Post Office Depart
ment only once in two or 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 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
ignorant. We propose to prevent, for the present,
anv 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 postmasters full and
exact information upon both subjects, up to and
for time being. How much of the present misdi
rection, remai|ing, doubt, confusion, error, and
imposition, will be saved by the progressive state
of full and exact knowledge, for which we hav.
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 we charge
for the paper, and will, il 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 systemat one e
to subscribe The same considerations apply to
the orders and notices, decisions, and instruction $
Of the War, Navy, Treasury, State, and Interior
departments, and the same is intended in
respect to them. Notices of the decisions of the
Supreme Court, in cases turning upon question:.
of official duty or national interest, will find pac
in this papr.