American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-05
The Census OF 1850.

The Baltimore San of this morning contains
q most extraordinary attack upon the census
returns as erroneous in point of fact as it is il
liberal and unjust in its differences and conjec-
lures. We are surprised to find such an article
in that journal, above all others; for to no pa.
per are we accustomed to look SO confidently
for accuracy of statement and fairness of con-
struction.
The Suns article appears to be based upon
the vague impressions Of the writer, and of
"the very few" he has sever heard speak upon
the subject" together with the following:
GAS an instance of considerable doubt, if not
Of gross absurdity, returns are made from coun-
ties in Maryland which contain only two per-
sons natives of Germany. In one county it
seems that there is none. In Frederick, for in
stance, it is set forth that there are but eight
lrishmen and tico Germans"
The impressions Of the editor and the very
few" are, of course, not susceptible of refuta-
ton; but the facts professedly derived from the
returns are. These minute returns are not yet
published, and access can be had to them only by
application to the Superintendent of the Gen.
sus. II, as we presume, the editor Of the Sun
did not resort to this source Of information, he
has thereby done great injustice to both Mr..
Kennedy and himself We have to-day taken
the trouble to refer to the official statement
and we find that one county in Maryland is re-
ported as containing only two Germans, and
only ten foreigners in all and we think IL our
friends Of the Sun would pay visit to that
hospitable and patriotic county on the Eastern
Shore, they would find these figures to be about
right. Caroline has much to commend her to the
love and admiration of the State of Maryland
but does not prove attractive to the laborious
and enterprise-loving Europeans who visit our
shores. Her homesteads are pleasant, and
highly priced by her own people; while she has
20 many laborers Of the sable race that little
inducement is held out to immigrants to come
among them.
But the Sun says that Frederick county is
set forth as containing but eight Irishmen and
tpo Germans. This indeed tells bad story for
the census-takers, and is well calculated to dis
credit all their labors; but even here we have
pretty good rebutting argument with which to
meet the writer--it is that his statement is un-
founded in fact The official record shows that
in Frederick there are so Englishmen, $3.50
Irishmen, 852 Germans, and 1857 foreigners
in all
We are sure the Sun is not actuated by a
wrong motive in this matter; and that had it
not in an unguarded moment been led into
error, the article before us would never have
found place in its columns. II appears to
have taken up the notion that some plan supe-
rior to the present would accomplish the work
Of the census in an improved manner This
may possibly be true. Everything can be i'm
proved by experience. But let us not in the
too eager pursuit Of improvement misrepresent
or undsrvalue the means and agencies We pos
sess. We have looked upon the labors Of Mr..
Kennedy and his assistants with much pleasure
from the commencement to the present moment.
He Is . gentleman Of great skill and extraordi-
nary application. His task is one Of Herculean
magnitude; but he has designed and executed
IL admirably. He Is bringing out Of chaos the
statistics Of the country, and his labors viii
lead to the organization Of q bureau that will
hereafter prove of great value to all the De-
partments Of the Government, in preserving for
constant reference, in the most accurate and
concise form, every fact essential to wise legis-
ation and the discreet administration Of our
national affairs.