Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19

perhaps be proper to snneynine to this.
Very respec,0lly, yours. Sc.
HOWELL, MIcHIs.E, JULY 4, 1851.
THE CENSUS IN THE UNITED STATES.
FROM LONDON TIMES.
The preliminary Of the census Of Great Britain and
that Of the United States Of America appearing simultaneously
in this country naturally lead to comparison Of the differ
ent methods in which the work Of the conducted in
these two important portions Of the Old World and the New
The general results which have just the light clearly in
dcate that there have been very considerable diversity
in the apparatus employed in the two countries and may
be productive advantage to have public attention
now directed to the manner in which hey manage things
on the other side OF the Atlantic The schedules employed
by the enumerators in the census of Great Britain and the
raneemens 50 eectuay carried by these officers, having
been already detailed it is necessary for the comparison
posed only present view Of the employed BY the
United States Government and which, it will be seen, fur
nsh many topics of great Interest," open Of course to much
discussion but suggestive Of several ideas which must engage
the attention Of the public and the Government before the
work Of the census is asan performed.
The management of the United States cnus
ed Mr. Kennedy. Of Washington, gentleman who has
devoted to the undertaking amount Of intelligence and
thusasm which have done him the greatest honor BY asso
ang bis with Of the most remarkable productions
..
The Constitution Of the Uni ed States requires mere
enumeration Of the inhabitants every years; the object
of this simple form Of being furnish basis for
equal representation in the Congress, and should
sy for it arise for the apporionmen Of for the sup
port Of the General Government The necessity for
full enumeration Of the slave well Of the free population
arises from the law by which the savehodng States
ded In the representation to the extent Of three hs Of their
slaves In addition to the numbers of their free population
Thus while the free counts for voe five slaves count
for three men, and their numbers become important elements
in every election.
The first census Of the United States was taken in $780,
and divided the population into five classes, follows
!. Free white males under l6 years of age.
2. White males Of l6 years Of age and above.
8. Free white females Of all ages.
4. Slaves Of all ages and both sexes.
5. Free persons Of color.
In this first census it will be observed that the Congress
made addition to the simple requirement Of the Cons
tuon by introducing five tables where would have salts
fed the strict requirement of the original law.
In the Of 1900 the Congress directed the
ton to be made different basis dividing the free white
population into five classes, and separating the
/. Those under 10. O. From 10 to 16 g. From Is to
26. A. From 26 to As. S. From AS upwards. The num-
Der of slaves taken in gross.
The Of 1910 preserved the classification, and
for the first time introduced arrangement to obtain some in
formation concerning manufactures and agricultural products
In the next decade 1890, column added to include
the number Of the free white male population between the
ages of l6 and ls. 10 this distinction intro
color who classified into those under IA from IA &c.
from IS to 49, and from As upwards This classification Of
the whites made with view to ascertain the military
capabilities Of the population while the new classification Of
tho slaves was made with reference to their vaue which,
general rule supposed vary according to the division
Of sge modified, Of course by climate and other eircum
stances This included also the number Of persons
engaged in agriculture, commerce. and manufactures.
In the fifth census, that Of $780, the white population Of
each classified in thirteen dvisions,hose under
s. TO- Is, TO- and then onward by steps Of ten years to 100
and upwards The colored population at the time
divided into six classes In this included the
Der of white and colored mu,e without respect SEX and
also the number Of blind, both white and colored.
In the sixth census, ls40 different classfcaons in
troduced in reference the white and coored populations
ages, and extensive inquiries instituted with refer
to agriculture manufactures commerce. and education
By these successive stages which it has been considered
important mark the operations have been gradually
pushing towards the Roman type until the United States
boast Of Conspectus which includes all that essential
perfect and thorough understanding Of numbers occupa
tions and wealth of their population well their ntellec
tual, social, moral, and sanitary state
In ls49 the Congress passed law which assigned the
census operations to board consisting Of the Secretary Of
State the Attorney General the Postmaster General and the
Secretary, Mr. Kennedy who indeed appears have been
the originator and principal eIecutant Of the whole work.
The comprehensive schedules issued this board provide
for Of information in all the matters to which
they relate and include plumber Of returns which in this
country woud be deemed nquistora call for but which
scarcely exception, afforded with the utmost readiness
Five schedules issued for all the free States and
sixth for those in which there slaves.
The FIRST Of these schedules relates to the free white and
colored population, and referring only population ar
ranged very much like that issued BY the General Of
this country is constructed with view to obtain in the
simplest form number of facts, showing the present cond
ton Of the people, and exhibit them in various relations
The object has been procure the age Of each person.
male and female white and black bond and free and to se-
cure the results in such form would admit of an easy
comparison with every former The first column
gives the number Of dwelling in the order of visitation
and the second gives the number families the comparison
Of both Of course showing the proportion Of families to houses
Then follow columns for the age, sex, and color Of
each person, distinguishing the whe black and mulao
races the object being afford the Of Judging of the
influence Of the admxture Of the physical condition
of the mulatto. Next is column the seventh giving the
profession, occupation, trade of each person. The
eighth column gives the value Of the real estate owned
whether in the county in which the person resides else
whore The ninth column gives the place Of bh to
show to what extent State hss contributed the popu
ton of another and also the number Of foreigners and the
different countries whence they have gone The tenth
umn gives the number Of married within the year. the elev
enh the number attending school, the twelfth the number Of
adults unable 10 read and we and the thirteenth the
Der OF deaf dumb, blind insane idisc paupers, and con-
yicts BY this arrangement the furnish the
means Of observing the relation Of crme Ignorance and ply
icsl inrmy to great variety of conditions by which they
may be influenced
In the absence of registration Of births, deaths, and mar
RACES there s obviously greater necessity for some OF the
particulars enumerated than would be found IN this country