Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-05
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
The Census Controversy Below the read
er will find a criticism ON the late letter of J
b. De Bow, Esq, from which we last had &C.
casion 70 make an extract. 1t is from the pen
of his predecessor in The Census Bureau. II
We comprehend the point in controversy, il is
simply whether the Census returns forwarded
to this city hy the Census takers ard now duly
filed among the public archives here were the
originals or copies thereof, made by the Census
takers directly from the originals. We con-
fsss ourself unable to fathom the Importance
of this question or its practical bearing. We
have thrown the Star's columns open to MIR
Kennedy, because he claims thatMr. DeBow' 5
statement copied into them virtually does in =
justice to him. As Mr.. DEB. will soon be in
Washington, We presume tat he will duly
rejoiu to Mr.. k's publication Of to-day
SEVENTH CENSUS M. Editor: In the
Star q yesterday, there appeared IN article
assuming TO be defence Os tho manner OF
taking the Seventh Census, against some rep
resentsta;ions Of Mr.. liurlbut in TIC Edin
burg kevleT The argument Purports to DC
made by Mr.. Dc Bow, late Experimenting
Clerk Of the Census, being copied from 4
letter OF his lG the Charleston Mercury. Lad
that gentleman simply stated that 10 fact
msterial IN political point Of view, appeared
m the publications under his direction which
had not long previously been promulgated
through the reports of his predecessor in Office,
and that &c DIR. d could not justly be held
accountable for any deficiency III returns the
taking and rendering of which was done under
other supervision and diTec:ion-that of
Northern wan-he would have dVue all that
could he deemed necessary IL his OWE defence
and have avoided the exposure consequent
upon assuming 20 know all aoou. that with
which he evidently has but snail acquaint-
ance, and 10 have directed that with which
he had rs little 10 do
While no C1e should complain at even a
feeble defence of lat for which the gentle
man Nigh. be deemed in the least res pous-
hle, an not willing tGat the confidence Of
the public, at home or abroad, in the correct.
ness OF tnc ground wOck o. basis Of oil the
Census publications, sLall be made to rest upon
arguments which are no. only without weight,
but from their weakness calculated to dispar-
age that which they are ostensibly made to
defend
Not having seen Mr. Hurlbut's statements
L cannot judge of their correctness or tenden-
cy; but erroneous IS they may have been,
their author, writing on a subject of which
he only proiessed TO treat FROM bearsay, is
placed greatly On yaDtage ground by the mis-
statements Of his critic, who, unless ac:uated
at all times by determination to misrepre.
sent, has manifested a lamentsble want Of
knowledge in his every effort to eulighten the
pubic regarding the manner Of taking tie
Seventh Census, or tho ascertained results
Take, for illustration, these very reasons"
IN the Star, which be declares " are obvious
enough, If examined one moment to shos
Mr.. Hurlbu. " 4 blind zealot or crazy fanatic. p"
Begin with what he terms his q first" which
reads SIS follows:
Full copies of all the returns are depOsited
IN every county and State in the Union whilst
the Originals are now filed away in the De-
partment at Washington;
This statement Is entirely erroneous and
nothing said By Mr.. Hurlbut could be farther
from the truth. Full copies Of all the re-
turns" were never deposited in any county
except W ashingtOn) in the United States
while the Department holds the copy alone
and no originals" the latter, as required Lv
lar, having been fled with the clerks of the
county courts throughout the several States
and Territories
With tnis notice Of the " first of his rea
sons l shall for the present content me nor
would IL have received this much attention
ala not think II duty to others as well as
to myself 10 check the constant habit of the
late experimenting Clerk of the Census, in
aVaih0g himself OF every occasion to magnify
his own importance, which alone were a small
matter, If, while trunpeting his own fame, he
could let Pass unemployed a single opportu-
nifty 10 Ignore all that has been done by Others
IN correction with the Seventh Census What
the motive may be for such a course. cannot
cay while l am quite sure that self decep-
ton or disappointment will be the result. |
certainly do not feel thankful for his defence
Of that portion Of the work entrusted to Ey
0iTectieE, ard l hope no one will blame me
fOr feeling an interest In vindicating tee truth
nf 81. r
any one, especially him, who after three
years experience might be deemed worthy of
crederce, did Le not betray manifest una,-
quaiLtance with the law constituting tho
once ignorance Of the instructions which con-
troiied rs details, and want of knowledge re
g&rd,nS TIE uses 20 which It's developments
should 90 applied.
Time, N my humble opinion. will prove
that me foundation f.. n reliable Census was
wen 'aid, anc after eupiri,iS:n and cbarla
tanry have exercised their feebIe sHay. vain
able uses will be made IF materials hitherto
greatly neglected; and when the lreiudices of
The moment are passed, such as have been
merItoTICusly associated with the work will
ENJOY their proper iced Of credit
December 80, 1sJG.
Protscjlcn.-The Charleston Ilc,,ury COM
Tents With force on the fact that more or less
cf the Northern journals tia; are at all tim,
extremely jealous Of proposition. &c reduce the
tariff of duties OF iron, nan ufacturos Of wool.
ems, and other necessariej cf lifc-tho duty on
which operates FOX tie advantage OF their
sectiOn-are row rampant for free sugar, be.
cause, forsOOth, it is necessary Of life Upon
this fact the Mercury takes occasion to say
no ia hot
against IRE sugar duties is because the article
rs cot PTOigeed at tho North, ard is produced
~ the South IL is simply another manifesto.
ton OF the determination Of the northern people
To make the Federal Government the instru.
ment ior Promoting their own peculiar inter-
es's. hen It's heavy sys:sm of commercial
tsAs'loh presses upon them, they cry out for
Trade. When IL concerns articles " bicb come
in eonpe,ition E.LLh heir n,z-. .za.I..a.. -