The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-10

iegisiauoh ana were, nke mat ins liable would
be utterly without effect for the purpose Of procuring any
such information the Senate viii perceive BY very
slight attention to the subject This table applies only 10
the black population of the country There is no dis
tnction whatever made between blacks and mualtoes
L Is fact well known 10 every gentleman that the mu
aoes belong mostly TO the class OF the free coored popu
lahon But II they did not, there is nothing IN this table
to distinguish between them. shall therefore vote 70
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. the remark
made by the senator from Florida has some truth IN T.
That results, however, from the change made IN the
tables. and shows the folly OF interfering N subject
without thorough examination OF H. But sui ~ Is
provided that the names shall be taken -
MIR YULEE. The name does not give the color |
Mr.. BORLAND. wish TO say a word before the
question is taken see in every STEP IN the examination
Of this bill CONFIRMATION q The view nave mad from
simple enumeration. We have had natural science
added among the statistics to be obtained; have had
astronomy under the head OF natural science and we
have even had controversial theology introduced The
whole question has become complicated and involved
that utterly despair OF any practical result to be attained
until everything be stricken out but the simple
ton must be excused if have troubled the Senate too
much upon this subject for feel very deep interest in
IT, II is important TO my State that the enumeration
should be taken for the State requires it. We have al
this but representative in the other House and
if the taken, should be entitled certainly
to three, If not four Now, sir, am unwilling to be
considered wanting in duty to my State, and shall ex
ercse what powers have 10 facilitate the passage of this
bill Il seems to be getting loaded down with everything
that the imagination OF conceive of, SO that
the requirements OF the constitutions and by that means
my State will remain without representation in the
other wing of the Capitol, whereas we are really
entitled to three or four members. shall, therefore,
exert all my feeble powers TO facilitate the passage
Of this BILL and shall pursue the only which Ideem
practicable and that is to get rid Of everything but the
bare enumeration OF the inhabitants OF the United States
That being with me prominent idea, although might
be willing on ordinary occasions, am unwilling under
the present circumstances, to retard this bill by such
measures as the appointment OF corps OF scientific men
explore the whole region OF natural science, any
thing OF the kind II is questionable power. Indeed
have such power But admitting doubt about it,
and that might by construction entertain such prop
oston and exercise such power this is no time to do il
We cannot do Il without neglectng our appropriate pub
enc the Bill that Be- reduced q
cal ormone in conformity with the requirements OF the
constitution
The question being taken on the amendment, il was
agreed 70 on dyision-ayes %, noes not counted.
Mr.. BORLAND moved 10 strike out the column head
ed t'deaf, dumb, blind, and insane"
Mr.; DAVIS. Il has always been customary hitherto
Mr. BORLAND. Iwould merely remark that the OBJ
ectons made 10 the other columns apply with equal force
TO this
The question being taken on the amendment it was
rejected division, six only voting in the affirmative
MIR BORLAND moved to strike out column II OF
schedule 2 headed, "Degree OF removal from pure white
and black races
Thequestion being taken, the amendment was agreed
to on adiyison-ayes %. noes not counted.
Mr.. YULEE. AS the table now stands, believe there
remains nothing more than the columns OF 'slavehold-
ers" the number of slaves" and the column which d
reefs specification OF the age, sex, and color Now SIR,
dividua in the State On plantation OF hundred slaves
you cannot undertake TO specify the particular OF each
slave propose, therefore, to substitute for the whole
form which, II strikes me, the committee will not hes
tate TO adopt IL is 10 ascertain the number of males and
females nader Is, l5 and the number of slaves
SO years of age. twill be very easy to furnish these
general returns. | move this as amendment Ii the
gentlemen choose, they may add another column for the
slaves over the age OF SO years think that may be
found expedient
Mr. DAVIS II my memory serves me, would call
attention to the fact that there is in the former statistics
Of this description, discrimination OF ages ascending from
to TO TO- &c That has been the form Of the census
heretofore have heard that there any par
tcular difficulty in doing it. Ii has been thought desira
BILE to make the census thus particular, in order that you
might see the progress q population and what Isa,aoa
important information and believe il has been obtained
wihou, difficulty Now. sir. the proposition this table
shorter process lis to take the age the name and the
number of slaves. and when that is done having got
that data can very easily get at tables and compen
dums such may be DESIRED and arrange them into such
casshcations you fit The table it stands is
much the most simple mode. Perhaps there may be diff
cultes in asceainng the precise age but IT can be as
therefore, il may be permitted to stand
Mr.. YULEE. The object of my amendment Is this
The Senate determines TO strike out the column which
stands has reference the existence OF the column
in which would be recorded the names OF the slaves
The practical difficulty in the table as it stands is
that you will be obliged TO give all the particulars in
spect to each individual slave plantation record
the particular age of them, when there necessity for
it. Now. the tables | propose accomplish all that is
necessary for practical purposes. igves you the num-
Der OF slaves under Is gives you the number OF slaves
between the ages oil IS and so, when they usually 1T
for work and gives the number OF slaves from the age
OF so upward when they 10 be generally used
the plantations This is all that is practicable 10 be OBJ
tanned in the statistics OF this population. Ii that
the least complicated Details the fewer tables you have
.,If I.. al the
information that is sought, the better IL Is
Mr. DAVIS. cannot well conceive oil more sim
pie mode OF attaining The ends proposed than By the table
stands II is simply 10 take the name, the nun.
ber and the age OF the slave; the color and the
Now, does not every gentleman perceive that he has
got all the Information that enables him 10 make any cas
sication he nj in the simplest form that be
da. do not suppose II has entered the head OF any
that il is 10 be done When the statistics OBJ
tanned, compendium Is TO be made from them, and
published; nothing else hope the table, II Is re-
duced to the simplest form, will be permitted stand
Mr.. DAYTON. do not rise, Mr. President, 10 delay
the motion; merely wish to say thar you destroy the
entire value OF thess tables MATTERS oil reference and
ton ten years ago, another one now, and another
still ten years hence. have before classification
that had ten years ago, where have the number OF
slaves under ten and under twenty four over
twenty -four ADD under thirty six, and to hundred
H. make change every ten years, matters will
be OF no for reference. You take this amendment
TO the census bill you cannot make any comparison
enable you TO make inai comparison, you can do so
well from the returns under il as under the bill
which now hold in my hand.
The auesfon being then faken t,pon the anendnnanf