New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-07
TIE GENERAL SESSION.
DIR. ELISHA HARRIS oS THE REGISTRATION or VIII

+" The Registration OF vital statistics In the United
States" 4 summary OF his address Is gwen below.
The OF the population ought b.
absolutely accurate and complete; but the method Of
the enumeration s essentially faulty that respects
are equlyOca, While all the disibutye grouping II UNI
trustworthy The senta yciousness Of each success.
sye census viii remain uufcmeded until the methods Of
enumeration are made exdctj unili az the fact.
relating to births marriages and deaths, and
the OF death, currently registered
as public records in every county aud State.
Vital statistics comprise the account current OF the state
with the lives the Inhabitants. The registration Of
these statistics is duty rendered 10 the STATE, and 4 to
alone can provide But wherever state has 50 provided
the methods and means for the performance ~ the d
ties OF vital registration, tue people comply with
alacrity TO the requirements OF the registry lave.
Brh records should be complete as 20 establish and
pcpetuate the Identity OF individuals ana such other
facts should be secured IN respect 10 both the child and
It's pares as the law may require WAL slatisucans ars
The cm, both OF the state and the infant, the record
TITS bftn are imperative aud allow no optional delay
beyond the REASONABLE uhr necessary TOT crtylng ahd
filing the record for public registration Claiming such
right state DO less than define the duties and
oblgdOhs u IMPOSES on te -'leai pcIhous utieslsu,
wnO cannot justidDly postpone the ocrtncauon OF
complete AID detailed record. In cases OF iilogltr
should be- obtained, particularly 10 the occupation and
nationality OF each parent. Such records made with
fuhuness VIII uOserye me Interests 81 statistical ana
biographical science Faithful registration OF stilF
births, secured by judicious laws regulating official re-
lurns and the suitable nurmenC OF remiIus TIE later.
ots OF morality as well rs science demand this record
as SOON verified. The law submitted Is
in harmony with the statutes OF htssachu'
Amendments OF existing statutes may be readily elected
d. tue states winch need merely 20 give harmony aud
only cumbrous aud inefficient statutes relating 70 mar
r-e registration, tne adopuJnO an enurciy new system
under laws Will be more Practicable
than amendments. The cpitomlzed anthropologcal MS
cory hie faithful ceruacde concerning tle, place,
ana social conditions OF scene. and medical
Iacls 30 regard tO causes OF death, Will ever mpau To
recors Nj the real Importance FOR which family. state
ADJ m -. al hasith NH iustly claim All events and
causes or mortality are To be lo"Wed back uutn 100
question may be answered, How may human Ire
| uenceiUrth he more completely guarded against the
causes OF sickness, injury and premature dealnP
As % is the cuii Oject Oi tns report 10 suggest tho
arguments and The pau by winch uniformity aud com.
pirtcuess snail De gwen % te REGISTRATION OF Wal 'ti-
u-lcs, we sAa ploce aituy go t- purpose ~ hD sc
/ sUbmit IN regard 10 lcculds ahA nG.tlduOh tef'an
essential c0uuuOus should Dt kept Do view in defishs
the plan OK Tue -featrt pitte'i uuly hAu c'h9ete-
thc records. These MAJ De en iiAe.,d ~ COM
p.ce registration 0t Dltns DO eycry community; com.
pct' ir-l,'iAil ID Ut iil il'iH '1 tia v "N',D auat
b.. plehcnSNe. Iuls branch oi registry provides
basis Of correct information concerning tne ioHudauon
FAMILIES. Iue statute snOuld provide Tor thorough
aud sceuunc yeIlcdOn Of violent ANA unknown causes
audcrcIustances Oh death, am cnctuai provision for
spec 4y verifying the fact, and tDc attendant clrcunr
stance of deaths. IAe en,.e matter OF records ana es-
vision of * cgt sanitary officers or Boards oi Health
10 give direction To the efforts proposed commit
tee-cousstng OF Dr. l.. Harris of Eew-fork, and DR. II.
r. Baker Secretary OF the Michigan STATE Board OF Chart
uea-was appointed 10 concur Win all authorities on
vital statistics.
Mr. Carroll d. Wright. OF Reading, Mass. read paper
on The Massachusetts, Census Of 1870 and is Lessons"
Nathan Alen OF Lowell, read paper IN The Changes
IN the Population OF New-Eugand" w. L. Trenholm. Of
South Carolina, also read paper on the Industrial aud
Social Aspects OF the Southern Question"
In the afternoon Hon. j. Randolph Tucker, Mem
Der OF Congress from Virginia, read paper on The
Relations Of the United states Each Otner Nodded
by the War and tie Constitutional Amendments
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM ~ THE SOUTH.
Gen. 7. NJ. Logan, OF Richmond. Va read a paper on
"Ihe Opposition in tbs South to the Free School sys
tenn" The importance Of the subject. and the promi
OF the speaker secured fol II close attention Inc
following are its suggestions;
Public instruction Is just the subject OF greatest
educational interest in tne soath Opposition 70 pubic
Instruction exists, mostly IN country districts where
the system j. inefficient The poverty Of Southern people
also occasions opposition 70 The - STEM I1e pr ncpal
trouble OF course arises from the presence ~ the reed
men. Aversion 10 educating the cOlored man af0usts
aversion to Tie whole system OF pubic instruction some
the objections 10 the - stem are pds'u on lh' pihepe
OF by the Government IN education Ihis
is only argument which deserve a. suc
To this argument s1es. many al ~ De ii
suftage having been enlarged IN advance Oh edueaonal
qualifications, theory has been violated ana society
paced in transitional state O great peril Private en
ertions being inadequate Tor tne emergency government
tai action necessary 70 avoid this danger winch threat
ems social destruction and fTee school INSTRUCTION - tns
ouly available mode Of qualifying the people a. soYer
egn voters Then, admitting that Soytfmtnia ihter
terence is an evil yet the industrial necessities Of tue
age force every progressive government To educate the
lie education suggested By race prejudice our aig
ment is IN regard to making MN the equal
Miscegenatou would De the greatest curse that could be-
Sn tbs Sonfh: and the importance Of ayertng such
calamity cannot be exaggerated Bui 1t cannot be pre-
yrnfrd II imminent by keeping the freedman debased
rT M il be caused by elcyating him. The safety Of IN
South against anna gamatOn Hes IN the race prejudice
implanted by nature to preserve race purity; aud th
rtudce, existing equally strong with tue unedueaed
Whites viii weakened by educating the freedman.
Much OF the prejudice against the freedman would be
removed his position IN society better understood
The freedman promises be useful By stimulating the
whites competition in which me whites VAL surely
ain the greatest advantages. Tue black VIII be bcne-
ntted Oat for while lac Will have 10 take the lower
caste position, he VIII IN that position gam greater chi
Cheney Tue freedman promises, too, 10 be "A conserNl
tive element IN society against Communism Ills ngu
EST utility can ony be- reached by euucaing him.
necia motaOds education used 10 be adopted IN the
smith, The negro has not become habItuated TO youn
fary Labor. He should 'Orilnay be trained 10 haDis
~ industry When he displays special aptitude IN some
decou opportunity should be afforded for his educa
non m that direction The free school stem should De
maintained should be modified ~ meet the special
requirements OF the south.
An interesting discussion took place on the Southern
question: IN which Judge lafayette 2 Foster OF Con
nscteut Dexter A Hawkins Of NewYork, David Dudley
Field Gamaliel Bradford, and others engaged.
After some other discussion, the Association adj
journed.