The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-01

as the select committee of nine to conduct it, viz
Mr.. WENTwoRTH of Illinois.
Mr.. AsHMUN, of Massachusetts
Mr.. MATTEsoN, of New York.
Mr.. HOLIDAY, OF Virginia.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Kentucky.
Mr.. Oar, of South Carolina.
MIR. CHANDLER, of Pennsylvania.
Mr. CABLE, of Ohio.
SEVENTH CENSUS.
On motion of Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsyvan
it resolved that the debate this subject shall
cease to- morrow, at one o'clock
The House then resolved itself into Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union--Mr.
THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, in the chair-and re-
sumed the consideration of the bill providing for
taking the seventh census of the inhabitants Of the
United States.
Mr. SlBLEY, delegate from Minnesota, gave
notice of an amendment which he intends to offer,
providing for taking the census of all the Indian
tribes. he made few remarks, amid the confu
sion which prevailed, and was understood TO say
that while gentlemen were eloquent in speaking of
the down trodden millions of our land, they were
almost entirely neglected. Of fast disappear
ing before the face of the white man, and whose in
terest should be matter Of deep solicitude on the
part of the Government.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, said that such
proposition would hardly be of any avail, as the In
dian bureau was already engaged in taking the
of the Indian tribes. Instructions have gone
out to the Government agents The amendment
if adopted, could have no other effect than add to
the expenses of taking the
Mr.. SIBLEY was well aware of that. The in
formation desired never be obtained but by q
provision in the census bill
MIR. JOHNSON said that there was a large vol
umc OF Indian statistics within the reach of the
gentleman II the agents appointed to protect their
rights satisfactorily cannot obtain the census of the
Indians, ii cannot be obtained by persons sent
thither for that purpose
Mr.. SlBLEY said that the agents there were not
competent. II was the policy of the Indians when
they came TO the agents 70 receive their per capta
was rs o the Tue dS e the
the Indians, as not year passes but thousands of
them die for want Of due protection. The policy of
the Government with regard TO them was utterly
defective and there should be such information OBJ.
tanned as would lead TO its correction. The agri-
cultural productions Of these people, and their gen
eral condition. were OF as much interest those of
persons living in the States.
Mr.. MILLSON commended that the clause in the
Constitution for taking the was rather an
injunction Of duty than grant of power, and that
the should be confined TO the enumeration of
the inhabitants of the United States.
Mr.. COLCOCK took a similar position.
Mr.. GORMAN, like the gentlemen preceding
him, argued the constitutional question against the
power 10 collect the information designed by the
bill, other than the enumeration of inhabitants
Mr.. HOWE alluded TO the arguments of gentle
men. At one time they claimed that the Constitu-
ton was large enough TO reach from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and TO embrace a foreign country lie
power was unlimited; but when Congress wishes.
by virtue OF law, to take the census and 10 obtain
information important TO the present generation
He contended for fair and liberal construction of
that instrument. The conscientious scruples and
constitutional objections came principally from the
southern portion OF the Confederacy For himself,
he had no conscientious scruples or constitutional
objections TO any Of the features Of the bill
Mr.. SWEETZER noticed a remark made by Mr..
HOWE in relation 10 the Mormons; and said that
in all the illusions, they had been stgmatized az
men banded together for robbery On the con-
trary, instances are many where they have given
assistance TO the emgrant on his way to California
When they lived in Ohio they were a simple and
inofensive people, and the world had formed an
opinion as 70 the treatment they received in Iii.
nois. The story about their having committed
murders, recently, was untrue; and he had coca
sion 10 know that they have treated cmiRrants with
all the kind attentions which should characterize
a civilized community.
Mr.. NlNTON rose for the purpose Of giving no
tce Of his intention to offer two amendments TO the
BILL the first Of which was as follows:
BE hJtubter enacted. That this act shall continue
IN force until altered repealed and il no other
law be passed, providing for the taking of any sub.
sequent census Of the United States, on or before
the FIRST day Of January Of any year when, by the
Constitution Of the United States any future emu.
meraton Of the inhabitants thereof is required 10 be
taken, such census shall in all things be taken and
completed according 10 the provisions of this act
The other amendment was as follows:
Ind belt tutieT enacted, That from and after the
third day Of March, 1853, the House Of Representa-
uves shall Dc composed OF two hundred members,
to be apPorhoned among the several States in the
manner directed in the next section of this act
Andbe a. further enacted, That SO soon az The next
and each subsequent enumeration of the inhabit.
ants OF the several States, directed by the Constt
ton Of the United States 10 be taken shall be com
peted and returned 10 the Office of the Department
Of the Interior, IL shall be the duty Of the Secretary
OF the Interior 10 ascertain the aggregate repre.en
tatiee population ofth United States by adding 10
the whole number Of free persons in all the States
including those bound 10 service for term of years
and excluding Indians not taxed, three ffths of ali
other persons, which aggregate population he shal
divide by the number Of two hundred and the pro-
duct OF such division, rejecting any portion of a
unit, II any such happen 10 remain, shall be the
ratio or rule OF spportionment Of representatives
among inc several states under such enumeration;
and The said Secretary Of the Department Of the Int
riorshal then proceedin the same manner
me representative population Of each State, and to
divide The whole number of each State thus formed
/ by the ratio already determined by him. az above
directed and the product Of this last division shall
oe voc number Of the representatives, apportioned
sucn state under the then last enumeration Pro
rtdsd, That the loes in the number of members
caused Dy the fractions remaining in the scveral
states on the division Of the population thereof
snail be compensated for by assigning TO so many
states having the largest fractions one additional
nlehOer each ior its fraction, may be necessary
/ ~ make the whole number of representatives two
hundred. Ind proridsd, also, That, t. after the
apporuonment OF the representatives under the
next or any subsequent census, a new State or
states snail be admitted into the Union the repre-.
sentative OF representatives assigned 10 sucb new
State or States shall be in addition 10 the number ~
representatives. herein above limited which ercess
of representatives over two hundred shall only con-
tinue until the next succeeding spportionment of
representatives under the next succeeding census
! Mr.. VINTON submitted few remarks ia ann.
/ port OF the amendments. Suppose that the next
Congress, from any cause should fail TO spportion
The Representatives; and suppose that portion Of