Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-14
FRAUD OR ERRORS?

The opinions of Gen. Walker on the
discrepancies in the reports of the census
enumerators in the Southern States, and
the methods adopted in their investiga-
ton, are more clearly indicated in the
following. from New Haven correspond
ent of the New York Times, than in any
thing before published
Gen. Walker said last evening, at his
home in this city, where he is spending a
few DAYS, that Investigations concerning
the returns had reached point where 1t
was evident that the census of 1879 was
defective in a high degree or that the CEN
sus of 1880 was fraudulent. The former
might have been defective without any
criminality on the part Of the enumerators,
as il might have been due to Ignorance
and incompetency. II the returns OF 1870
were approximately correct there was no
possible question that the returns were
fraudulent. In some districts the increase
was a. high a. loo per cent. In some OF
the South Carolina townships, varying In
size from 20 To ECO square miles, the in
crease reported il from l25 TO $50 per
cent. Such an increase, said the General
could never have taken place by the
growth OF the population, unless it was
by immigration. The returns showed
that practically all the people were OF
South Carolina birth. In one district
where 200 persons were enumerated, only
four were returned as being born out OF
the state. 80 the increase could not be
due 10 immigration. The increase re-
turned was simply impossible.
The Census Office" continued Gen.
Walker. has never for moment sup
posed that such an increase has taken
place The only question was whether
the abnormal increase could be accounted
Tor by the detection Of the census OF 100.
Il Is true that in 1870 there were large
losses In some counties since 1850, and
while the war had naturally repressed the
natural growth OF population 10 some eX-
tent, there is no reason TO suppose that
the war has destroyed the normal growth.
zen. Walker was asked whether the rela-
tons Of the returns of 1880 10 1850 Were
such that the present returns were dis
proportiOnate 10 the increase In CORE
spending period 20 the sections of the
country Tie answered that he did not
care 10 express an opinion on that subject
al present, and continued in relation 10
the investigation into the returns now in
progress. We have taken in counties
subject 10 question, the description of
every family on a separate card from the
returns for lS6O. 1870 and 1850. These
families can, IN the main. be Identified, al
though. there are many changes in fami-
lies i'm the decade between two ccuSu>eS
h we tind In Marlboro county or any 9th
or county OF the State 100 families re
turned in the census OF lSGO and that of
lS>0, and omitted in that of 1870, we
shall conclude that the census for $50
was defective. The marshals and assist
ant narshalS who took the census in 1870
were political appointees, many OF them
colored men. and there is too much reason
10 suppose that some OF them turned over
their work 10 mean whites OF more cleri-
cal ability and went shares on the pay.
Township divisions were not then rccoS-
uized, and il i highly probable that the
many cnumeratorS did not know where
their county stopped and another began.
The former class OF investigation is
simply preliminary. IT, amer this investi-
CATION. the accuracy OF the recent re-
turns appears impossible then inveStiga-
tious on that ground will be begun. The
second Investigations, should such prove
necessary. will be conducted at Washing
ton. and with the greatest minuteness."