Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-06-10
.yI.VTH CB.N'sUS or TIKI U.yJTED
ST.fTES.

work in every part of the United States, |
taking account of the people, This has
been done every tenth year since 1890. The |
inquiries made at first were few, and the |
report Of the condition of the people was
meagre. II only represented the number
of white males in two classes, those under
sixteen and those sixteen and over, white |
females in one class, slaves in one class, and |
all others in one class.
CIR adually this decennial inquiry has by
order of Congress, become more and more |
minute and the census reports more full and |
satisfactory, so that, at each successive emu |
meration we have clearer idea of the CON |
dtion, character and power of the people. |
In 1850 Congress fixed by law the extent |
and kind of inquiry, and established this |
as the rule of all future enumerations. This |
was followed in the seventh census, 1850, |
and in the eighth in 1860. In the winter of |
1869, the House OF Representative in Con-
gress took up this matter, in early advance
Of the census of 1870. Finding it very ex-
tensive and complicated, and that there
had been iest improvements in the plan
and execution of the work in European
countries, the referred the whole subject
TO committee of high intelligence, at the
head of which was Gen. James A. Garfield.
They were directed to examine the matter
in all its bearings, to call to their aid those
familiar with its elements and to prepare
plan and report a bill in accordance with
the advanced state of the times and the
increased interests of the country, at the
reunion of Congress in December in 1869.
Az nnnpiptp1 tbpNr NJ
aud presented a plan which was very
great i'm provement on the old law. This
did not comprchen all that.was hoped,Iyet
1t would produce better and more salts
factory account of the people than had been
previously obtained. The House accepted
the proposition but the Senate rejected it,
and lett the old law of 1850 in force. Some
few alterations and Improvements were af-
terward added, and as it now stands the
following inquiries are to be made in re-
spect to to the persons throughout the coun-
try, who were living on the first day of
June:
l. Name.
.. Age, to be given in years if over one
year, in months if under.
3. Sex.
4. Color, white, black, mulatto, Chinese
or Indian.
). Profession or occupation Of each, male
or female
9. Value of real estate owned.
:. Value Of personal estate owned.
g. Birthplace. The State or Territory if
in this country, the nation if foreign.
g. Birthplace of father.
10 RirtbDlopp of mother
IL. The month of birth if born within
the year ending June LIST, 1870
T. The month of marriage if married
within the year ending June list, 1870.
10. Whether attended school within the
year.
IA. Whether able to read.
IL. Whether able to write
1G. Whether deaf and dumb, blind, in
sane or idiotic.
II. Whether male citizen of the United
States over q years old, native or natural
lied.
IS. If male citizen, whether he has been
denied or abridged in his right to vote, ex-
cept for rebellion or crime.
In respect to each person who has died
within the year ending June lst 1870, the
following inquiries are to be made:
l. Name.
?. Age.
g. Sex.
4. Color.
8. Whether single, married or widowed.
9. Birthplace.
7. Birthplace of father.
8. Birthplace of mother.
o. Month of death.
10. Profession or occupation.
IL. Disease or cause of death.
The inquiries in the first series are to be
put and answers to be given in respect to
every man, woman and child living in or
belonging to the United States, to whom
they are applicable. Those in the second
series are to be made and answered in re-
spect to every one who has died.
In this investigation the government de-
mands the best evidence and sends its mes
sengers to the the fountain head of this
knowledge, in every dwelling in the land,
The marshals will visit every family and
seek information from the best authority
that there is to be found. They will always
ask for the head, the husband and father.
If he be dead or absent, the officer will ask
for the wife or mother. If she is not to be
found, then for an elder and mature child
or hOusekeeper. If these authorities fail
then he will look for the next best, young
err child, visitor apparently familiar with
the facts, or perchance hired man or wo-
man, girl or domestic, possibly stranger
and foreigner, who may perhaps have no
full comprehension of the questions pro-
posed nor clear conception Of the informa-
ton that is required.
In this work the government and the
people have one common interest and pur-
pose. The government wants to obtain the
information as complete and as accurate as
possible, and to obtain that from the best
authority in each case. Every man and ev-
cry woman desires to be reported in the
same way Each one prefers to speak for
, himself or herself certainly to be repre-
p sented and described by the best intelli-
gence of the family, and only after careful
1 consideration.
0 The marshal has large field to survey,
| and only a short time to do his work with
0 in this month of June. lie must visit ev-
= cry family, obtain an account of, and de-
$ scribe every person in his district. He
j must therefore improve every moment
s from morning until night going from
o house to house, collecting his Information
t and recording II in his schedule as he goes
= along. OF course he takes the best witness
that he can find in each family, and put
j down whatever he can learn from him OF
: ! her. Unfortunately for this purpose, few