The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-05


And now sir with regard 10 the Construction OF that law.
III thai construction 10 % be made by looking 10 lis terms,
there are esliaa rules which may "a The cor
under sanding which the honorable senator from Ken
lucky had = The tune he assented 70 the passage Of that
Loekng 10 the provisions Of the act ITSELF, maintain
that the provision which before stated Is fully susain
Cd The Congress Of the United States in the enactment
adsdusl. public officers. Who were to constitute hi,
board They were not persons likely TO enlarge the bill
But having made these selections, they imposed on them
specific duties Lest by possibility they might multiply the
subject q inquiry 70 an extent beyond what was conem
The idea Of the from Kentucky is that all that
contemplated by this act OF Congress was that this
% h sre1la ps
necessary Now, sir il such had been the object Of the
law, certainly you would have found in its provision
stead Of requiring that the board when they had finish
ed their tables should proceed 70 print them they would
have required that draft of those tables detesma.
I'd upon by the board. should have been Submitted to
Congress At the present session for their consideration
But cir. they have given their whole authority TO
ese and % hem mem y
| do not 10 say that by this law Congress
is precluded from acting upon this subject. YET Do
this form BY the Of the last session for That board
mss axe the consequences Of the resolution as to ex
peaditure under that law What maintain is that it
sage Of the President Of the United States recommend
INK that that law should be carried into effect totally 10
Disregard its provisions and to substitute scheme of
Mr. UNDERWOOD. win the gentleman allow me
0as word did not know, sir, until had heard the
,s, WORDS Ss 2, ny friend IRON Gs9a mt BEans
duty with ranscendng the authority which they had
under the commitment of the subject to that committee
The honorable senator, my friend from Georgia, who
makes the charge, brought forward specific statement
by way OF reference to document, without reading the
authority under which we acted 10 show that we had
dufy md al fhata
sir, what Is the authority given to usl believe that
portion OF the Presidents message embracing this sub
was raised generally upon the subject of the seventh
census Now, sr having raised the committee upon the
subject OF the seventh census having had the Presidents
message embracing the subject of the seventh census
committed to us, i seems to me that everything
neced with the subject in any way shape embracing
the report under the lazy Of The last session. should be
Iegtmaely considered by that committee and altered and
changed Ct pleasure. At least could recommend to
the consideration Of the Senate the alteration and change
committee has trsnscsnded It's legitimate authority ia any
particular in making the tables which they have sub
mitted with their report
Sir, let met ask you, il this census board had com
peted their tables. if they had completed their work
when the whole subject referred to that committee,
whether those census tables to have along
with the Presidents message the committee! II
to perfectly clear that il the board had reported
70 the Executive, in the annual communication to Con-
gress, the whole would have been referred to that
mttee and that those very tables of which my friend
speaks, would have been legimately before the commit
tee upon them should have had right to act by way
OF suggestion and alteration change. All that con-
tend for is that there is no principle in that law of the
last session which binds to execute and carry out any
thing which the census board may DO without the further
action OF Congress- and II you concede that Congress
~ concession implies the right OF the committee to
change, modify, or alter, wherever the committee,
sanctioned by Congress- think proper to make the alter.
alton. The senator says that the board
posed Of gentlemen who would notgo into the vagares
which conectured. Sir, am very happy TO say that
the Official dgnitares Of this country would not be very
likely extend their inquiries details greatly beyond
h u sye Ifh e
brace. The very act ITSELF The senatof from Georgia
remarks, did not give them unlimited discretion upon
they should transcend one hundred inquiries. sup
pose they might have possibly gone farther Than that
na thereby a hs law sy s from ay son to The
gone the exercise Of their own judgment upon the sub
ject But sir, although concede to the gentlemen CON-
ian, and excellent judgment still that judgment patriot
ism, and intelligence, above the supervision of the
aw-making power, unless you can bind US down to the
be DONE take work without inquiry and
ton maintain that we have right TO investigate II
for we cannot have the abors Of that body forced
were, by the construction and Interpretation Of
thai act That is all contend for. The senator from
Georgia seems TO be saying TO the Senate because Of
that act OF the last session, you bound TO take what
ihis board have DONE deny that proposition. II we
bound take it, because they have done tiff il
u not obligatory upon then, sir this committee might
scheme III are bound TO take tiff hands tied
yield the question; but deny that
Mr.. BERRIEN. Mr.. President, only desire 10 state
10 the Senate that which have stated before, that the
report Of the census board accompanied the Presidents
measage, and was as follows:
"Ths census board begs leave respectfully reports
Thst by the of Sd of March, $780, the undersigne
were constituted board and insfusted with the duty
preparing proper forms and schedules necessary for the
full enumeration of the inhabitants Of the United States
and Tor collecting in statistical tables. under proper heads
such Information should exhibit full view OF the pur-
Shory after the passage Of the act the board organized
appointed clerk and entered their duies and they
have prepared and ordered be printed such forms
schedules seemed under the law for
enumeration Of the inhabitants of the United States and
10 contain full information concerning the Industrial
Sources and the pursuits education and condition of
people.
The board have arranged the blanks in such manner
that when the information collected shall digested IL
will exhibit In small compass the actual condition. re-
and progress OF the United States developing new
features, and disclosing, for tho first time, many
interest 70 the people and OF importance the
man and legislator.
The board having discharged the duties assigned them
it's with Congress TO provide for the completion the
work. Il -
~ l. A.. - -