New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-21
Communicated.
CENSUS RETURNS.

| As the New Orleans Times is still harpinG
on the census, venture, as an assistant
marshal lately engaged in taking the same
to make few remarks.
AS regards the census taken in the city o.
New Orleans, not having been engaged il
that section of the State l know but little
of its correctness or inaccuracy, but know
that a large portion of the inhabitants OF
that burg were absent during the months o.
June and July, when the ninth census was
taken, leaving temporarily deserted man
sions. According to instructions, the as
sistant marshals cOuld only report these
houses as being unoccupied, and had nc
means of ascertaining their inhabitants as
the information could only be obtained
from the heads of families or members
thereof have no doubt that most of these
absentees, gone off to various sections
of our country, were enumerated at the &C
tual place of their residence during those
months, and credited to that locality: be
sides, any one familiar with the city knows
the exodus during the summer, not alone OF
wealthy pleasure seekers, but of clerks, me
chanics, ETC., who simply work in New Or
leans during the winter.
But in the country parishes of this State,
in one of which | took the census, may be
presumed to be somewhat posted.
In the northern and western portions of
our country in which l have lived taking
the census" is most always an agreea BILE
and pleasant task The marshal is received
with politeness and hospitality. The far
mer knows what the census means. and its
object, and has pleasure not alone in fur
nishing what is required of him. but in Civ
ing such information of his locality as he
may deem necessary to be known; he is in
terested in his cOuntry's progress and hopes
to read in few months the gain of its popu-
lation and wealth. He may, perhaps, have
had many heated discussion with the deni-
zens of some adjoining towns IN regard TO
whose county has advanced most during
the past years in manufactures or educa-
ton. The census man is therefore received
as one, perhaps, longed for, as his report
may set at rest many a vexed question, and
crafty the pioneer who finds the old clear
ing has become place of note, and strug
giles for Importance with older settlements.
In the country parish in which l took the
census | found two obstacles in the way
ignorance and prejudice. Ignorance pre-
vailed almost universally in TIE pine wood
portions of the parish. Among what are
called the poor whites but few knew
what the census meant. If they answered
similar questions ten years ago to those
which were now propounded them they had
forgotten it. The war lately over had
almost obliterated all past recollections of
minor Importance. That great tragedy
sweeping over them was the only recollec-
ton they cared to preserve. To.them any
official visit could only be construed as be-
ing connected with taxes. As the census
taker penetrates into localities which the
tax collector deems too poor TO take the
trouble to visit, he discovers people who
have paid no taxes for years and who in
dread daily anticipate their poor clearing
and meagre cattle may be called to account.
To the question of number of family births
and deaths, it was not difficult always TO
get reply; the principal product of in
dustry," a large family, were sometimes
cheerfully handed in, name by name. with
grim satisfaction at the difficulty OF spell
ing a multitude of names never before
within the ken of the most intelligent of
marshals. But when asked the number of
acres in the farm, amount of crop, value of
stock, suspicious quoted regarding taxes
were again aroused, and only by the most
artful series of questions and renewed pro-
testatiOns regarding their object could
replies to the purpose be ELECTED.
The educated planters of the rich bottom
lands, who fully understood the purposes of
the marshal's visft,, at best treated The sub
,ject with indifference. The replies elected
were given carelessly, and with evident de-
sire TO afford as little satisfaction as possible
The more preiudiced did not see what bust
ness the Yankee government had with their
family; they did not know what their crop
Melted them; couldn't possibly say what the
number or value of their stock might be-
supposed the census was for the purpose Of
determining how many negro Congress
men would be elected from their State or
negro members of the Legislature; did not
think a government which was not theirs
entitled to any courtesy; if they did give a
list of their stock and its value, they might
give in too much, and perhaps the census
report would be adopted by the tax as
SCISSOR; didn't know how many pounds of
seed cotton they made; the merchant had
furnished account sales. but didn't know
where they were, etc. Their cOlored people
had been informed that the census man
had come to get more taxes; that now they
saw the advantage of radical rule.
| am certain that the adrOit subterfuges
employed by the darkeys to evade the ques-
tons asked them afforded the overseers and
managers the most intense satisfaction, and
the marshal who had ridden thirty miles
beneath the hot sunny sky of July, and had
to combat at each stopping place during the
day ignorance, prejudice and Indifference,
presented in every aspect, did not certainly
think while riding at night ten or twelve
miles for a friendly shelter, that the people
took much interest in the census, or that he
was in a land of hospitality and chivalrv.
| can only say, in conclusion, that the
great interest now taken in the correctness
of the census should have been displayed
while the census was being taken: and its
being displayed only now proves the motive
and will be perfectly understood by those
who are familiar with the GROWERS. who
can not father their evasions upon those who
were only anxious to be correct, and whose
report was based upon u,,Strers reccired.
That the REPUBLICAN will permit us to be
heard is the wish of
AN ASSISTANT MARSHAL.
Three daily New York city newspapers
TWO evening and one morning, have died
WITHIN month, and more must be on their
last legs. None of the dead journals had a
long life, but they lived long enough to lose