The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-07-19
THE CENSUS OF 1850.

\ InquisitiVeness is said to be one of the most
marked traits of American character. Truth lies
] at the bottom OF well, and we are eieTnally
4"pumpng" it out. We are essentially matter
5of-fact people We abjure theories; we abhor
I schmeras; we rdicule ghosts. Our Lares and
sPenates are palpahIe, tangible, living facts
SFiat Lux is our motto; and we are the sworn
enemies Of clouds, and msts, and moonshine, Of
Everything that can dim, OF everything that can
sdstort, and Of everything that can obfuscate.-
awe would know the real stamp and color and
I proportions of every thing. and would have it
stand out in as broad bold relief meridian sun-
Night can give it. We are nation Of ventiiatols
land are for letting the beams Of day through our
awhole political and social creation. And we
are right; for public opinion is our vital element
3and it can never be pure and saubrions, unless
Hit has free range everywhere, with no dark clois-
sters, or murky caves or shadowy forests to OBJ
ascnre and contaminate it.
q The census Law of 1850, which commenced
operations on the lst oil June, is one Of the might
aiest ventilating processes the world ever wit
dnessed.-Its sweep is universal. Its six enor-
amous schedules will give the country an airing
sit never had before. They will expose and clear
Cup all Of its elements, and functions and opera
gtions-popuation. profession, color, occupation.
Splace Of nativity, births, marriages, deaths, pau,
.spers, convicts, ignoramuses, deaf, dumb, blind
idiots, lunatics slaves, fugtives, freedom; pro-
aducts of agriculture, names of owners, agents.
3and managers, acres Of land improved, cash val
aue of farms, and value of farming implements;
Ehorses, mules and asses; working oxen, milch
Scows and other cattle, sheep and swine; value
Sof live stock and animals slaughtered during
3the year; wheat, beans, peas, buckwheat, barley,
;Spotatoes, clover, grass-seed, garden products.
5scheese, buttef fax, hops, silk cocoons, sugar,
Amolasses, hemp, value of home made rnanufac-
Stures, products of industry, the name of manu-
ssacturing corporations, companies of individuals,
Akinds of manufacturing business, capital invest
Ned in real and personal estate, quantity, kind
land value Of raw material used, including fuel,
Szthe kind Of motive power, number OF hands EN-
q sployed, number and cost OF female labor, and
Nthe annual quantity, kind and value of such pro,
duct; the aggregate valuation of all real and per-
sonal estate. State, county, parish, town and road
z3taxer, the number and character OF colleges,
9academies and schools, the amount raised for
|Sschoos, and received by them from public frnds
Mthe libraries and their extent the number, class
Sand circulation of the periodicals and newspa-
5pers, sunday schools, the churches, their names
land the number each will accommodate; the
sscost of labor, the average wages Of female DO.
%mestics, carpenters, day laborers, farm hands
.Swhether with or without board, the average and
short crops, and in short everything that in any
aWay relates TO the character and political econ.
laemy Of the nation.
q The new census will be one tremendous ar
Gray Of invaiaable figures any one Of which may
. 4 l.. 4
Thousand sophstries. Facts are the only data
of all political dialeclics, the primary elements
sof all political science. Such statements as this
Scensns win furnish are the beacons which iiln
n inmate the great civil deep, and guide the pub
#Iic pilots on their onward course. Society is in
Ca perpetual state Of fuctuation. Il is sea o.