The Shasta courier., 1856-02-16
Ceusus for 1S56.


One of the most useless bills which has as yet
been presented TO The Legislature. is the bill
recently introduced by Mr. Sceen of Sierra.
into the Senate. for taking the Census OF the
State When a bill is presented, which may
and will affect every portion OF the State, 1t be-
comes the duty Of every citizen to examine H.
OF what practical service such a bill be
What eau be done for the State after The census
is taken that cannot be done now? We hold,
that it is extremely doubtful, whether can
take census OF the State. consiiiutionay this
year. The constitution provides that il may he
taken in 1855. and the Constitution of the Unit
ed States provides that it shall be taken every
ten years. But there is no provision for taking
il 1856, at any other time than in 1855. and
in 1860. Til h,wev, we apprehend is mat
ter of very little moment, for although it may be
constitutional to pass act still if it be not
full in ITSELF certainly our Legislators have too
much respect for the peoples rights to pass a
law which would cost the State hundreds of
thousands, unless they were convinced that an
eminent necessity existed for it. Now what
the arguments used in favor of law requiring
the census 10 be takenl The only one which
we have ever heard is that we have not just
and equal representation, and that census
must be taken the basis for a fair and inst
apporiionment. Our Federal representation
cannot be increased until 1866 and we may go
on and take census of our population and
wealth every year between now and then. We
have greater representation now in our Feder-
fbar al
speaking. under the census of 1850 and although
may be entitled to a little more now, STILL
we before remarked. there is possible way
of getting it until 1860 1.-THE object then is, on
ly TO apply TO the States action and if the Legis
l,ture really desire that the State should be fair
ly and equally represented in proportion to our
population, why not adopt the vote of last year,
as The basis. and fix the representation in con-
formity to itl We venture the assertion, that it
would afford the fairest exposition of popular
strength that could possibly be obtained. If it
were Objectionable to any portion of the people
the miners ought most to object, for they,
general rule take less interest in elections than
the agriculturists, yet we are perfectly willing
that the vote may be adopted as the basis, or we
nre willing to remain as we are for w e feel cer-
tain that we will not be very grossly imposed
on, by our brethren from other portions of the
State. We have looked at this matter in all its
bearings, and can see nothing in the bill of Mr..
Scelen TO admire. and in vain have we looked
through the newspapers of the day to see some
defence made of the bill, or some recommenda.
tion Of it, but can see nothing. The author may
be able to furnish some cogent reasons for its
passage, but until that is done, we must believe
that it was got up for the purpose of feeding
band Of hungry office seekers, how many, God
only Knows, as the bill is very indefinite in
every particular, and particularly so, in regard
TO the clerks necessary for The Secretary of State
to call to his aid AS the bill is intended to do
the greatest good TO the greatest number we
have no doubt. but Mr.. Dave Douglas will give
most all the '.boys show"
This Census Bill we apprehend is but the be.
ginning of system and unless the Senate take
firm and decided stand in defence of the peo-
pies rights, we are Ia be delnged in debts, from
which we will never be able To extrcate our
selves. But we hive faith in our Senate and
know that nur interests will be relisiousy
watched by that body.