The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-02
TIE STATE GEMS US.
Report or the commIssiomcr of Asri-
culture.

The State Commissioner OF Agriculture, Mr..
Henry Slarnck, has made report 10 Governor
Scott, setting forth the results OF the cnumera-
tlon Of inhabitants Of the State provided for 10y
the act OF March 10, lS6p,l so far us they have
been asccrtaincd from the reports made TO The
bureau, up to the date of the report, November
20, 1860. The commissioner remarks:
This statement embraces the returns OF seven
teen counties, leaving fourteen still TO be heard
from; AMI IL, from the nature Of the case, too i'm
perfect TO be used either rs basis for the appOr
tionmcnt Of representation In the General Assem-
bly, OF this State for the yenr 1870 aud until the
year 1875, cont cmplated by the constitution Of
1865. or for the collation. OF such statistics as
would enable us to note with precision the
changes which have taken place in our popula.
t0n, except in the particular localities indicated
serve the general purpose OF acqualnting the pco.
PIE OF the State with the progress which has been
made by this bureau In the exercise of this par
tlcnlar branch OF its functions. aud can he ac-
ceptcd, think, as u very fair criterion OF what
may hc expected from tile completed returns.
AS the act under Which we operated required
simply an enumeration OF the Inhabitants OF the
State for specific purpose, ana this was tile pre-
cursor by only one year OF the very elaborate cen
sus taken every decade by the General Govern
meni, deem 1t unwise to burden our returns
with amy oii'n;r details than ssc'i as were essen
hence the only specifications to bc found In the
books. OF which the annexed table is partial ab-
stract ore such rs embrace roster Of children
within the ordinary ages or pupilage; one OF cit.
Xens constItutionally entitled to the exercise OF
the elective lranchisc and finally general emit
mcratlon OF inhabitants sub-livldcd by color ana
sex. Tic first OF these specifications was made
nt the request OF The State superintendent of
Education, the second was dictated by obvious
policy, and tie last wns The natural mode of re.
porting the information required by the act.
In connection with the results obtained, SO far
MS they go, have stated the aggregate popula-
tion by counties, according to the present census
and by that taken by the United States Govern
ment In the year 1862 and made comparison Of
increase and decrease In the same. When the re-
turns shall have been fully completed, Will enter
more into details, anu endeavOr to present sucl
reasons for the fluctuations which have taken
place In our population, as mny be fairly deduct
bic from the premises at our command.
received statistical reports OF the agricultural
productions OF the counties respectively desisna-
teu IN the talae annexed, but defer any specific
ailuslon to them until they hnve been subjected 10
thorough clerical revision. IL Is proper TO re-
mark I'm this connection, however, that reliance
may not he placed on the absolute correctness OF
lhls portion OF our work, as the officers in charge
OF IL have almost uncXcepionally conlplaiurtl OF
the indisposition OF the planters of the State to
make proper returns, either from the fear that
they were to be used basis for excessive TAXA
lion, ,, or from lamentablc misapprehenslon Of
tne true interests OF their own department OF In
dustrial pursuit. Both misconceptions autici.
patcd, and endenvorcd to dtspcl through the prints
OF inc State, but onlclnl publication failed TO re-
move the general distrust OF a State Government
to which the planting interest has been untiIs.
guisedly nntagonizcd from political prciudices
from Its very inception.
AS there are reasonable grounds for belicyjnp
hat the returns from the now unreportcti
counties will be completed In n few days, defer
saying more OF the operations or this bureau
until SUCH time as the full possession OF figures
and facs will fOrtify me In the suggestions shall
1eel induced to make to your Exccllcncy In refer.
cnce 10 lts future administration rs an agency I'm
Ihe promotion or the material interests OF the
Stute nave the honor 10 be- your obedient SER
'"h'' HENRY SPARN1CK,
Commissioner.