New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-27

causes of either. Without knowledge Oh
this it is impossible to mature the simplest
measure in the least degree affecting the IN
formal rcsources of the country. Without such
information. il is impossible to fix the status
of the Republic in the great iamiiy Oh n"aioi''
Without it. we can know nothing OF our
capacitics i'm peace or OF our aDillIle9 III N,''
Secondly. all useful and Intelligent HsiS."-
tion affecting the material interests OF INC
country must be founded upon a knoWIeogo
~ correct "A possible of its present Wealth, Hs
possible production, and the point Willch u
hoe already reached in its advance toward such
Dossibilitv The Government has no interest,"
,,Lotevcr in information concerning the wealth.
of 4 or b or c personally and slhgiy, uleSo
thrce being engaged we VIII say III the manu-
cacture of cotton goods but IT has an lhinle-
date iuterest in knowledge toleraDiy accu-
rote of the nroduction of a, b, L, IN the ag-
oro,,oto. And if suspicious men VIII but stop
10 tbinl, thew will see that this Is all which
tbe Government is seeking. Individuals must
NO Intercepted. but the public and the world
will hear of nothing but the sum total. There
is n sort of indefinite notion floating ABOUT
that the Government is making this harmless
innuisition in order that it may increase the
taxes. A more deplOrable folly never entered
the human head. An accurate return OF the
production and industry of the country Is much
more likely to make the taxes lighter than IL
is TO make them heavier; for Congress must
know how much a specific tax Will produce
before it can determine its amount. Ii kept
in ignorance, by the pig-headedness Of pro-
- nll,l a N
that it will, as between a larger and less
rate fix upon the first. Indeed, to DO so Is
the only safe resource; and those who permit
themselves to give inaccurate answers TO the
census-taker may hereafter find that the IN
diligence has been a costly one. Congress VIII
have TO choice 1t must act upon the presump-
ton that the official figures before 1t are accu-
rate: so that the maker Of false answers not
only picks his more truthful neighbours pocket,
but he actually robs himself. 1t is game at
which in the long run he must inevitably be
the loser.
We readily admit that in countries under
an absolute form of government, census-takng
may be regarded by the people with just
suspicion for its result may be more re-
morseless taxation or a more sweeping military
| COnSclIpuOn. DuJ III thio I"'Vi'u i'iit -
different. The census has been ordered by the
| people themselves through their representa-
tives. II cherishes no Interior design either
upon property or person. 1t IS not, as else
where it might be, merely preliminary TO
new exactons or still more Onerous leyles for
the military service. So fortunately are we
situated that a knowledge which can be trusted
of the resources of the country will more
probably tighten our burdens than render
them more ponderous. How childish Is IT.
therefore, for any man when called upon
officially to render an account of himself, his
family, the character and the results of his busl-
| ness to prevaricate, to stand mute, or to put
off the inquirer with absolute falsehoods. we
trust for the credit of the country, that VT
shall have no more reluctant responses tC
the questions of the Assistant Marshals.