Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-24
" -~"Y't'''
Errors / II TnkIn. the Ccnsus OF 1850.

EIToIH III SAS SshT w AS"Ss
Entire accuracy in taking the Census at any
period cannot be anticipated. Slight mistakes
will unavoidbly occur, but when gross and pal
pable errors arc committed, statistical returns
become illusory and worthless. That Con-
grcsS desired the Census Of 1850 to DC taken
correctly is quito obvious, and that the officers
engaged in taking the Census cndcavor to dis
charge their duty with fidelity and zeal | cheer.
fully acknowledge. | have not read the de-
tails Of the law providing for taking the Cen
sus Of 1860, or the Instructions given to the
Deputy &IarShals for the guidance Of their oHi.-
cial action, but / ain confident that there must
be some defect in the law, or some error in its
Interpretation by some persons engaged in its
administration. These errors should, if pracli-
cable, be corrected before the Census returns
are prepared for publication.
II citizen Of Virginia WINS land and slaves
in Virginia, Il cotton plantation in Alabama
and slaves thereon, and also Il sugar plantation
and slaves in Louisiana. and he is required to
give here in Virginia 4 list Of the whole Of this
property, his manager III Alabama and the one
in Louislans ought not surely to list the Ala
bama and Louisiana property when this pro-
perty has already been listed by the proprietor
III Virginia. In like mallnel, ifa citizen of |ir.
ginia owns land and slaves in the county Of his
residence and land and slaves in a different
county, the owner Of all this property ought
not to list the whole, and then his o~vurSccr,
or agent, list all the property lying in the other
county. The abSurdity and fallacy Of such 4
course are too plain for argument. In this
way, the number Of slaves will be exaggerated,
and also the wealth Of the white population
This is no sketch Of the fancy, McssrS. Editors,
and, with your leave, | will give my experience.
1t SO happens, that ! own land and slaves in
TWO different counties in Virginia. some
weeks ago. the deputy marshal OF the county
in which reside called 1t my house to lake
my Census list. / That he is conscientious and
honest / cau testify. In the COURSE ri CONVEX
S~ation, he said it WAS his duty ~ take Il list Of
the entire number Of slaves owned by IDe in
Virginia, without regard to counties, and the
estimated value oil my whole real and personal
property. In reply, remarked that while |
had not read the law Of Com rcss, it seemed TO
INC, that my property in the county Of
ought to be listed by the deputy marshal Of
that county, Ms otherwise mistakes would be pro
badly made by The rarshalS. Ny coun,yman
assured Tic, however, that | was in error, and |
therefore furnished him a list Of all my
slaves il each county and am estimate Of the
| value OF my land, slaves and other per-
sonal property. In 81 short time, ! learned
that the deputy marshal Of county, had
called on my overSccr and obtained from him
4 list ur ,iy slaves in that county, and an cSti.
mate oil my whole property in that county
In consequence of this, there is al error OF one
hundred and two Or three slaves, because the
slaves iii the county Ut - are listed twice.
AS my land, &r., IN ti,c same county was listed
twice ::>t, AN represented not only as own
Ing more than ONE hundred slaves beyond the
true nl.l!brr, but as owning nearly one hun
ircd al iil!y thousand dollars more Of proper
- than do own. Ii similar blundcrs arc
made elsewhere in Virginia, of what value will
I've our Census returns? | refer to these things
with Ivsrri. sc, with the hope that ny calling
public attention to them. all such errors may
he corrected MS Soutr aS practicable. y sense
OF public duty, ir rrlr: cnce 10 an important
subject, has overcome the great reluctance with
which | have alluded 10 my particular case,
and this ~#'!l:sion will. ! tl!ink, be pardoned by
the generous arHl intelligent reader.
y PLANTER