The daily union., 1852-01-15

the mdteI upon winch we are now aetng IL however,
we would wait some two or three weeks, IN that time
We can be furnished with sample OF the work, the
the Superintendent OF the Census proposes TO have exc
cuted He has prepared as understand the returns OF tue
State OF Maryland which are now ia press and be az
pecis to be able 10 furnish them to the Senate IN the
course OF two or three weeks When we get these re-
turns. which will furnish sample OF the whole work, |
shall understand what his plan is, but cannot until
we do We certainly do not understand il now; II ls
said that i IS 10 contain historical sketch OF each State
together with tables OF statistics, and much matter OF
valuable public interest When The Senate shall see The
whole work. they may perhaps approve of this historical
sketch il they do not, they then reject IT, If they
determine not print IL nothing is easier in the world
than for them TO say and the expense will be saved
of procuring other historical sketches will say, in jus
uce 10 him, that think they very we'll done
and whether useful not, they do seem likely TO oil
such enormous amount OF space the senator from
Maine supposes. Perhaps when the Senate shall exam
inc Them they may be approved, as they do not seem ke
y 10 contain anything which isnot of public utility. But
do not yet know what the calculation OF the Supern
tendent OF the Census He may not design TO extend
the work much is Supposed and, even II he did The
Senate may not desire TO do The historical accounts
and statistical tables will make up, putting the whole re-
turns in three volumes about the size OF the Revo
luonary Archives it is calculated II we will wait two
three weeks, the sample which we shall get will show
what the work will be- Then shall be able TO do
justice to the subject This sample which speak q IS
the report called Tor and authorized by the law When
obtain this, shall be prepared TO act understand
ingly upon the whole matter think, il would be
most proper therefore, 10 postpone this subject some two
or three weeks now move that the further consdera-
ton OF this resolution be postponed until this day three
weeks.
| Mr. BUTLER. Mr. President, wish TO make sin
gle remark upon this subject. upon the Census
Committee at the last Congress did not hear all that
said by the honorable senator from Massachusetts,
lMr DAVIS, but have doubt that he gave very lar
view OF the difficulties OF the subject This is an exem-
plhcanon Of what said at the time the census bill was
before the Senate said at that time that, my delbe
Judgment the act beyond the scope OF the
stution say that the act under which the marshals
have made their returns to the Superintendent OF the
Census brought matters within the operation of the CEN
sus which were never contemplated by the constitution
itself said then that the constitution provides that
census should be taken What is comprehended under
the word" census" Mr. President Why, sir. emu
meraon OF the population. For what purposes 10 en-
able Congress to regulate the ratio OF representation from
the different portions OF our confederacy II was also IN
tmated, perhaps, that might egmaiey tal within The
scope Of such agency 10 take also estimate oil prop
erty, real and personal So far, was willing to so.
But the act went further 1t required species Of lnior
nation rather TO satisfy the curious than TO comply with
the strict Tequisiiions OF the constitution
But this additional inormaion we are told is hlsto u
ry OF some kind 1t seems 10 me, however that i IS OF
the same kind OF information that to which have
Just alluded And how does i come before the Senate
We supposed that in the act which passed for taking
the census imposed legislative sanctions By which
the information there provided for should alone be col
Superintendent OF the Census or some other person,
wrote TO the marshals, voluntarily requiring them to be-
come historians far as regards collecting certain mate
rias Of the history Of their counties and districts.
Who, then, is to be the historian The Superintendent
himself, taking these materials and making book OF
them
I
of the very highest importance, requiring rare COM
bnaton of industry, talents and Judgment, and, above
all, degree OF dellbeIailon, and extreme mpaLaay
put before his mind And here we now proposing TO
add, after what has been provided by the act book of
about fifteen hundred pages at least composed OF hslo
ical matter
agree with my friend from Maryland that we ought
not to act upon this subject without having sample be-
fore But il leave TO the Secretary OF the inle
for to the Superintendent of the Census 10 any com
mittee Of the body, do so bndy on faith, when they
may do what perhaps might reject. If we had COM
mted to the Secretary OF the Interior and he had
baced these matters, we what an abuse 1t might have
been. Ii we had committed il TO the Committee on PRINT
ing they might have undertaken 10 have added these his
would have been an abuse We cannot ntegently
legislae on this subject without having before some
sample OF what is intended 10 be printed and would be
prepared TO strike out rather than to add, for think we
have required great deal OF curious information TO be
collected under the act contemplated by the consttu
uon much OF which ought 10 be stricken out shall vote,
therefore, TO postpone with very clear view OF the sub
ject in connexion with what had of il before
Mr.. BORLAND. MIR. President desire now merely
to call attention to the language OF The law, which
have several times referred.
First, however, would correct the Misunderstanding
into which find some OF my friends have fallen to
what said OF the manner 10 which the Superintendent OF
the Census has performed his duty in having the census
taken. | understood by some TO endorse the man.
ner in which he has performed that duyto say that he
bad done so in strict conformity with the law In this
was misunderstood. What intended 10 say-and what
think did say-was that was willing 10 admit, and
had reason 10 doubt, that he had performed that
part oil his duly Whether he has performed the duty
or not have no means OF knowing for have not seen
the work. based my admission ia his favor 10 that ex
tent upon the opnion-ihe correctness of which have
no reason TO doubt-that he is gentleman of ntel.
gence and integrity, who would do his duty under the
law.
But 10 the main purpose for which | rose | said,
and repeat, that, in my opinion, this whole movement
for having the printing OF the undertaken at this
time is premature, and not only not in conformity with
the law but in derogation OF IT, hold that law in my
hand, and find This subject disposed OF in the nineteenth
section After prescribing the general duties of the Su
perniendent Tor taking the census, and receiving the
tDarshals returns, II holds this language:
"And further, the returns are 50 made to cause the
same TO be classified and arranged ia the best and most
convenient manner for use, and lay the before Con
gress at the next session thereof"
Now, sir, this duty OF the Superintendent has not been
periormed-hs plan as required by the law, has not
been laid before We have no information before us
which the law requires should have befofe we act
and without which, in the very nature Of things, we
cannot make our action either sensible. PRACTICAL or
useful
This If il were needed would be placed in clearer
and stronger light by quoting another and subsequent
passage OF the same section OF the law providing directly
and specifically for this very printing | will read II
from the prouiso at the close OF the section
The blanks aud preparatory printing for taking the
shalt be prepared and executed under the direction OF
the Census Board The otto printing 10 be trtcufed Con-
grtrs shall direct"
How can execute this provision OF the law--how
direct this printing be done-unless we know tChat and
hoip much Is TO be done The work we are now asked
to have done is not before u.s. and has been here
indeed il has existence anywhere for remember, il
is the "pan" OF publication upon which act,
and in regard TO which to give our direction
II 4. kI.t al E..lx