The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-05-26

WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY %, 1856.
Census Of tho Tsrritery.
An act, approved by the Governor, Feb.
37th, 1855, provides that the Sherifs Of the sew
sral Counties shall, during the ensuing month,
proceed to make an enumeration of the popu-
iatiou Of the Territory, with view to an ap-
portionment for representation in the next
Legislative Assembly.
The first section Of the act requires the
Sherifs to enumerate all the Inhabitants OF
their several Counties, and the Counties at
tached thereto, with the exception of Indians
and persons belonging TO the U. S. Army.
Section I'd provides for the appointment of
deputies by the Sheriffs, and prescribes the
manner Of dividing their counties into census
districts.
Section Sd prescribes the form of oath to be
taken by the deputies.
Section 18th names the manner and time that
the deputies shall make their returns. The
time is at least ten days before the period
their returns to the Secretary of the Terri
tory"
Section 5th prescribes the penalty to be in
Cured on the part Of Sheriffs or deputies,
who shall be found guilty of violating the act
In any particular. They "shall forfeit and
pay the sum of two Hundred dollars" to be
recovered in the ordinary mode Of legal pro.
cess.
Section 9Th requires that the enumeration
shall be made by an actual inquiry of the head
Of every family, in their respective counties OF
districts, aud shall commence by the first day
of June, 1855, and said enumeration shall be
completed and closed within thirty days there.
after"
Section 7th appears to be, at least partly,
superfuous. II it means anything, it slightly
conflicts in one particular with section 4th !;
but it is in a matter Of detail of no essential
consequence.
Section Sth We give entire:
"The SheriAs of the several organized coun-
ties of the Territory SHALL on or before the fit.
teenth day Of August. 1855, prepare duplicate
copies OF the enumeration of the inhabitants of
their respectictive counties, and the counties
thereunto attached for judicial purposes taken
a. provided by this act, ono Of which copies
shall be Immediately forwarded by mail or
some other conveyance, directed to the Secre-
tary Of the Territory of Minnesota, at st.
Paul. in said Territory, and the other copy
shall be filed in the Office of the Register of
Deeds OF the proper county, to be recorded in
inspection Of all persons concerned"
Section eth names the compensation the
Sheriffs and their deputies shall receive for
taking the census.
Section 10th is as follows:
1.-THE Secretary of the Territory is hereby
authorized to cause to be prepared and trans
mitted to the Register Of Deeds Of each coun-
ty, on or before the first day of April. 1855. for
the use of the several sheriffs of the organized
counties Of this Territory, q sufficient number
Of blank FORMS for the use of said sheriffs and
their assistants. in making the enumeration as
herein provided, which form shall be substau-
TALLY as follows:''
There follows the form of the blank
We have been induced to make out and pub
lish the above synopsis Of this important law
Of the Territory, owing to the fact that we are
daily applied to by Sherifs of the several coun-
ties for information concerning the provisions
of the same. We have invariably referred them
to the Secretary of the Territory. and they gen.
orally make the return to US that che cannot
be found" AS an instance, the Sheriff of Good
hue county was in the city yesterday, anxious
to procure his census blanks, which should have
been forwarded to the Register of Deeds OF his
county ION or before the first day of April''
last, but he was compelled to return home with
ont them.
Still, we have hopes that the census act will
yet be executed, even at this late day. We
were positively assured by the Secretary yes
terday, that he intended to faithfully execute
the important trust reposed in him by the law
making power; and that the blanks would be
printed to-day and forwarded forthwith. Ifso,
they will reach their several destinations in
due time.
One thing is certain: If there be any "scull-
duggery" at work among the Administration
rulers Of Minnesota to deprive the people of
their rightful representation in the next Legis-
ture, their schemes will recoil most certainly
upon their own heads The PEOPLE will see
that their Sheriffs make an enumeration of the
Inhabitants, even without the due forms of law
They have decided already, that an apportion'
ment, must and shall be made; and it will!
HoN. c. C. WAsHBuRNE.-We were pleased to
meet in our city yesterday morning this staunch
y ~