The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-01
PREPARATORY NOTICE.

octapo pages, is published monthly for ONE DOL
LAR ONLY, per annu'n, payable in adpance-or fpt
dollars for sir copies ordered.
PREPARATORY NOTICE.
The enterprise in which we now embark, and
OF which this paper is at once the commencement t,
and sample Of the papers that to follow, } as
for it's 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
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 Leen no vehicle for the regular and proper
communication of information of this kind. The
publication Of the Laws and the issue of instruc
tons, more less comprehensive, and 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 regulations and in
structons Ineligible. The valuable documents
annually reported to Congress- are too voIuminous
and printed in quantities too small for general
circulation; whilst the debates in Congress and
the commentaries of the press upon their proceed ,
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 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
Plies, 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, methodlca, and eY
act, shall make the administrative duties Of the
departments more easy and effective. and thereby
~ ,kxs~y1s 81 sxt.
country And this we expect to DO, to some ev
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-Of6ce 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 en-
tered the department fourteen years since, and for
many years previously, had been, hrstin the Wer
Department, ard subsequently, in the Treasury.
He has therefore had the best opportunities for
understanding the arrangements Of business in ali
the departments, and being acquainted with those
who carry it on Since his official connection with
the Government ceased, he hatters 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 civiity with
them ALL The Junior Editor has been asssiduousy
engaged for several years, in studying, by per-
sonul inquiry and examination, the practical and
daily routine and details of the POst-Ofiice and
otner branches Of the public business 1t is with
this stock Of experience, and these advantages for
reaching the various sources of administrative ac
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, 30 as to
f,r from tho do,
all the ORDERS notices andchanges issued, or mad.
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 a
matter of inconvenience and complaint, for which
hitherto there has been no remedy, that N 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, |
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 modifs
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, 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 intelII |
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, it is hoped, induce every
postmaster who feels just pride in his Office or
a 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 question:
of official duty natonalnterest, will find place
in this pap.r.
ruNHE undersigned, a committee Of publication, on
Il the part Of the Muscogee and Russell Agrcul-