Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-06-30
THE OENSUa.

In no country in the world, which has attained
similar degree cf civilization ia there incomplete
system If government, in come respects. as IN the
United States Of America The entire functions Of
the body polite tc be fully exercised, only in
one direction. Not to ascertain or direct how the
nation is 10 be best governed but TO learn and com.
maud BY whomi' shall be governed. On all matters
pertaining 10 the diffusion Of that correct inielli
gence among the people essential 10 the proper IN
Outstanding Of our internal resources and subsian
tial prosperity, the legislation Of the country and
the operation Of the laws are woiully defective.
In no particular is the course pursued by our
rulers more faulty than in the present style Of Ia
king the decor Mil census. t. justify the correct
# cur conclusion it is only necessary for any
reader To examine III : statistics furnished By the
D.ra tnient e TIE Int"- or, based upon the facts
furnished by the Unite Strs Marshals. In nine
instan out Of ten, any man well painted WITH
given locality " i'll discover the most palf hc ard
ridiculous errors in the rcpr, scaiaou - tie ropr
lalion and resources Of his ncighborhood. Under
the system nov pursued with the most efficient ell
GERS, reliable statistics Throughout never be OBJ
tnincd.
In truth, the federal census should be confined 10
the item Of population, With view simply to hI
the ratio Of representative in the House Of Repre-
sentatives and nrportioninx it. AIRY effort to "a
beyond this, and attempt TO accomplish all the de-
tails prescribed by the mrcated legs rcquisi,ions
nnw on the statute bpuk. must result in the most
foolish bluudcrn-. We will necessarily have as
Consequence, statistics which are toaly unfit to re-
used as the basis of!ess,a;io1 and which may LEAD
to tie most serious and injurious nistlkcs in that
r i :.
that The labor winch ihs Federal has nA1 -r:Akrn
should be devo.ved upon tho Siiie gov.rn'ncr's
The States. ty TIE establishment # statistical
bureaus should colcc: all tt" facts now cssa ed t.
be congrPgaied under the authority &c E .nErcss
Each bureau should he controlled BY Com ION.
cr whose duty should &c 10 direct IL" tax ~ III"
census ard 10 suier,ntrud ari nipple Tie rlturns
These # course. shH1d embrace all diversi;ics o.
Industrial pursuits and products. rarufac,ura
Commercial, agtirultnrnl.- and elhibi; al ,he
;eria facts to be acc III, late from Registers. dircc
tories ard o.hrr IF information that pertain
% religions. moral, educational, s,ciai a9d vital
! statistics. avs shoul be ,nl'ed, untN- penalties
which would ensure their Observance. reliir;n-
marriages, liIths a"d dcaths 10 be registered TIM
statute we now haze in tn STATE bearing urcn this
sl' ,rct should lie enforcr1, and n sin, lar onr
should be incorf orAtel With the Legislation # ever,
! o.tcr State. As"ss'ts cf coun"es. Giles. tcwa.
ships. &c, should hav" It Ie part Of their dni,
to cl!cc .l.h f.c.s as tic Ca.,el States MArsaa!.
are now required 10 c5ec;. After sa:h a .ys'en.
has once been Instituted aad the facs arstaJle t.
De Known, c",;.cied nL1 Irorcry arranged. tn
subsequent work Of r,trZ The charges wii be ~
The actual CATERERS Of sac ku wrIe" iigi; task
Provisions of this character, correctly executed
wodld Crailv seclrc tie hiccis ahieh Co:cress n"
tuEg!aS,-EaRsrte seesn1i'k sittI',N'. --~rr-e-
here would be safe grdc t. leg;s!att1n bo't
safe md rational, - AMI all ,nLj-cts WITHIN the
scope # census irf,tmai1n. IT," a'nouu, u! i-ir-y
whct has been inl c,"d on ir'fo:iant in;e-ts;s b.
Eggs axiom shi7e1 reliance upon the false censl>
rsturns of the pas, cannot be easily estimated. l.
- time HAT s11e remedy sh 'u'1 he adopted aSains
,Ish evils AID that au;eccdent errors k.ouid serve
beacons to warn those 10 pilot Tie slip e 5ia'"
tia; il may be siceted in a safer aud better d.
tectiyn.