The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-05
The Census Act.

The Census bill having passed both Houses Of
Congress and received the signature OF the Presl-
dent, is now law. lie provisions are very full,
precise and discriminating; and as piece of legs-
lation it is worthy oil the age its progress and in
creasing civilization
An important feature was added to the bill in the
form OF an amendment offered by Mr. Vinton in
the House of Representatives. This clause enacts
that If provision shall not be made by Congress to
take the census in 1850 by the first of June, the
present act shall remain in force, and the Secretary
OF the Interior is empowered to proceed at once in
the work In connexion with this il is further pro-
vided that until new apportionment OF represen-
tation in the lower House shall be made by Con-
gress, the number of members in the House shall
not exceed two hundred and thirty three. Two
matters OF Importance, and often of great difficulty,
are here simplifed and made definite and easy.
When the census returns all come in, the Secretary
OF the Interior, taking the aggregate federal popu
laon OF the United States, and dividing the whole
number by two hundred and thirty three, may as
certain at once what is to be the ratio of represen
tation II will then be very simple matter to al
lot to each State the number of representatives to
which it is entitled, and to notify the Governor of
the same. That brief process is all that is
sary, should this act remain permanent, In order
to arrange the troublesome business of new appor
tionments every ten years.
The Census act contains six schedules, OF which
an abstract may not be uninteresting:
The first relates to the free inhabitants, and the
name OF every one, with his abode on the lst OF
June, is to be given. Profession, occupation, place
per convict, insane idiot, white or black non
ability to read, if over twenty years age, are all
to be given.
Schedule two relates to slave inhabitants, the
owners OF slaves, and the number OF slaves; the
tugtives from the slave States, and the number
manumitted, with their age, sex, color, and natu-
raj Affections
Schedule three relates to productions of agrcul-
turc; to the names OF owners, agents, and mana
gers; the acres of land improved and unimproved;
the cash value OF farm, and value of all farming
implements the horses, mules, and asses; the work
ing oxen, mich cows, and other cattle; the sheep
and swine value Of live stock, and of animals
slaughtered during the year; the bushels OF wheat,
beans, peas buckwheat, barley, potatoes, (rish and
sweet,) clover, grass seed, rye, corn, oats, flax
ginned cotton, (400 lbs. each) the value of orchard
products, market gardens, pounds of cheese and
butter, flax, hops, silk cocoons and maple sugar,
tons Of water and dew-rotted hemp, hogsheads of
sugar, (l000 lbs. each,) gallons of molasses, and
value of homemade manufactures.
Schedule four names the products of industry,
the name OF each corporation, company, or lndIvid-
ual producing annually articles of the value of
$500, each kind OF business, capital invested in
real and personal estate, quantity, kind and value
of raw material used, including fuel, the kind of
motive power, the average number OF hands en-
ployed, the number and cost of male and female
labor, and the annual quantity, kind, and value of
each product.
Schedule five relates to social statistics, the ag
gregate value of real and personal estate the State
county, parish, town, and road tax; the colleges,
academies, schools, free and otherwise; the amount
raised for schools, and received for them from pub
lie funds; the Libraries and newspapers the public
paupers, and their color, birth, and cost; Sunday
schools; the churches, their name, and the number
each will accommodate; the criminals convicted
and in prison during the year; the average of
wages by the year, month, and day, and whether
with or without board; and the average and short
crops
Schedule six asks for the of every person
who died during the year; the age, sex, color, whe
Their married or single, month of death, place of
birth, disease, profession or trade.
Thus ends the list, comprising ninety two qucs-
tons in the six schedules The information
pected is as to the year ending June l, 1850.
Baltimore american, June g.