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

correct estimate as how the people are accommodated
Our tables, therefore, il seems to me- sir enlarge and
obtain fuller information in reference 10 e condiuon OF
the families OF the country greatly beyond thai fuInshed
by those OF the census board will not 20 into all these
things unless il becomes necessary by the course 81 he
argument understand that It Is designed 70 suomila
motion To postpone the consideration OF the matter until
some other day Let that motion be disposed of am
inclined 70 vote against j. believing that II ~ important
that We should g, this business under way aank we
printed at once SO that may be taking measures 70
tribute them throughout the country Think, therefore.
from Georgia. [Mr BERRIEs,l that the public interest
would be promoted BY disposng Of this matter to-day.
Mr.. BERRIEN, Mr. President. hope thai the d.
cson by the Senate upon the taking up OF the resolution
upon the table, will not at all depend upon any
sideTaion which is personal 70 myself rise sir for
the purpose OF saying that looking @ me saEgesioas
me 10 Be upon the comparative merits Of the tables pre-
pared 81 tie census board and BY the COMMITTEES. But
whether sobsistng law OF the United States shall bs ex
ecutedshal be carried into effect whether we will
substitute for the results whichhave been ceaed under
which, with great respect for the opinions Of the mem
bers, to not to have been contemplated when
that committee was elected.
Ii understand this matter. sir at the last session OF
Congress, we passed law by which we constituted
board and that census board was requrcdtoper
form certain duties We have had the message Of the
President of the United States, informing that these
duties had been performed by that board and recommend
ing Congress pass law which shall carry into effect
the contemplated dct Ol HcSsiOu
Now sir inquired at the Secrearys table for the pur
pose OF learning what the specific authority for the
duty for which this select committee was raised un-
dersand that for the purpose Of the reference 70
them Of that portion Of the Presidents message which
relates to this subject g6 t 84 @fNF s#E
Now, sir il the Senate will indulge me for moment,
refer the existing laws, and the source OF authority
under which this committee have acted, apprehend that
they win see, stated at the outset that this s not
question Of the comparative merits oi the tables prepared
respectively by the census board and BY the committee
The act REQUIRES g9Ss8s5 +
.That the Secretary OF State, the Attorney General and
the General shall constue board to be styled
prepare and to be printed such forms and sched
ule may be necessary for the full enumeration Of the
ana shsus e e collect eosong Ia scs @ Ss under
proper heads such information as 70 mine agriculture
commerce. anuactufes educaon and other topics, as
will exhibit full view Of the pursuits, Industry education,
and e the Gonny / being provided tim, tSs
shall exceed hundred and that the incur
red in and prdlnnE sag % ana snAu
Now sir advertng to that law, the President Of the
United States, in his annual message, says:
by OF 3D. March, l5l9. board constituted TO
make arrangements ior taking the seventh census COM
posed Of the Secretary Of State the Attorney and
the Postmaster General and It was made The duy o. hs
prepare and be printed such forms and
schedules might be necessary for the full Of
and scseaules for coleosng, in statistical tables under
proper heads such information as to mines agrcnlture
would exhibit full view Of the pursu industry ednca.
ton, and resources of the county The duties enloned
formed with Congress enact law for carry
ing into effect the provision Of the constitution which
ques actual enumeration Of the people oil the United
States within the ensuing year.
The Senate then, is aware that there is subsstng
law which requires this duty OF preparing tables to De
prepared, not by its committee, but by board created
uader that law. The Senate is aware from the an
nual message OF the President Of the United States, that
that duty has been performed by the board acting n
der the existing law and that the whole duty which has
been confded to the Senates committee has been simply
consider that portion Of the Presidents message which
relates to that subject
Now, sir what would seem to have been the duty Of
select committee raised under the provisions OF such
law, and with reference to such a communication from
the President of the United States! Was il to sit down
and prepare tables for taking the under the pro-
visions of the constitution No, sir the committee were
informed that that had been already done under the pro-
great respect that committee, that what remained for
them to do prepare bill which should carry out
the provisions OF the constitution having reference TO
what had already been done under authority Of law:
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. am somewhat surprised, sir.
AT the argument which we have just heard. UNDER
s!ood that this law was passed during the las, ses
should procure preparatory nformation and that they
should likewise prepare such blanks and such
os az they nigh. submit ior % the eoasaeliugn o. soe
deceived and mistaken in that! am, sir II the argu-
ment Of the gentleman from Georgia MI. BEaRIENl BE-
correct What is that argument sir That this census
board shall prepare what forms they please and that
without looking at those forms-wthout considering
those forms-wthout knowing what that board has re-
nvesgae-we, sir, shall have nothing TO do but 10 ap
propraie money to carry into execution scheme that We
know nothing about Sir il seems TO that that - the
DRIFT OF the argument which have just heard Ifeer
sir that il that is the extent of the obligations imposed
upon US by this law OF the last session. did not under
stand il al the time had idea, by that law, OF pedg
ing myself TO the execution OF system formed BY the
census board of which knew nothing; that we, sir,
were TO give them carte blanche to provide just what
system they pleased and that were to take il upon
faith without looking at IT, never dreamed OF such
thing as that, sir
Then, il to inspect what they have done, and
make act Of Congress 10 provide for it, then, sr is
subject OF amendment which Congress may think prop
er to make Now, sir deem that you ought not lightly,
II they have incurred any expense to reject plan, nm
less there is some good reason for it, think you ought
in courtesy to them, and in pursuance OF honesty TO the
country accept scheme they have prepared, and to
adopt T. unless there is some important exception to It;
and that you ought to appropriate money and time 70 per-
feet that scheme OF theirs and TO carry out Butt
utterly protest. sir, against the opinion which has been
expressed here, that because passed this law insuu
ting this census board, bound. without urtner
examination to take whatever they do and execute mat
This Congress have right sir, in executing the law Of
the last session. 10 supervise what the census poau neve
DONE and il they find anything in that supervision which
needs alteration then sir il their bounden duty TO do
Suopose that The census board had extended their nqu
res into five hundred little frivolous matters which Con-
oress might think would not be OF any service to obtain
Statistics through the assistance Of the deputy marshals
are we bound sir TO carry the inquiries Of deputies
A., tbe fnlI extent board direct2 Or