Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-10-12
FIRST EDITION.
30 p. Nj.
TELEG RAPHIC.
THE CENSUS.
Southern States Correctly Emu
merated:

WASHINGTON, D, c., Sept. 9.-Sec-
retary Schurz made public the re-
port of Superintendent Walker, OF
the census bureau, on the alleged
census frauds in South Carolina
After reviewing the statements made
by the press alleging the frauds and
action of the census bureau IN myes-
tlgating the same Gen. Walker says:
"The extraordinary gains reported
in certain Of the counties In South
Caroline and state as the whole over
the census of 1870 demanded. There
fore after q careful investigation, it
was notorious that South Carolina
had not forfeited materially during
ten years since 1870, by immigra-
ton, either from foreign countries
or from other states of the union
with a slight advantage
from immigration it was
not possible that the
old state could have gained in
population in the interval since 1870,
to degree which is shown by
the comparison of two censuses. 1t
follows as conclusion of the high
ers authority, either that the census
of 1870 was grossly defective in re-
gard to the whole of the state, or
some considerable parts thereof, or
else that the census of 1880 was
fraudulent census of 1870, and
might have been defective in a high
degree without fraudulent intention,
through incompetence or negligence
of enumerators employed; but the
census of 1880 could not have exag-
gerated the population of the state
without absolute fraud in as much as
the census law requires the name of
every person reportd to be written
at length on schedules, with the
score of particulars, as regards age,
tag, nationality, etc., so that any il
legitimate addition whatever to the
schedule must be of the nature of
conscious and purposed crimes.
General walker then gives his 1easonf
for believing this report of 1870
incorreck, and attributing it mainly
to the defects of the law under
which it was taken, namely
that of 1850; and says
there was more over lacking in 1870,
throughout the general region, one
very important subject of enumera-
ton, viz: The public interest in the
result and general intelligence likely
to be shown by the canvass. The
interest generally manifested
throughout the United States in the
ninth census Was far belew that
which has been shown the present
year, but now how did the interest in
the work of the census fall so low as
IN states referred to, in which politi-
cal activity, under the constitution oi
the Uniled States, had scarcely re-
vived?
No special allegation of fraud in
the enumeration of South Carolina
has ever been made to this office.
The en- ire reason for impeaching the
integrity of the recent census was
formed in the reported gain of the
population between 1870 and 1880
The result of the investigation places
beyond possible question by any fail
minded man the entire fault upor
the census of 1879. I know of ne
reason, therefore, why any further
charge should be made against the
enumeration recently brought to 6
conclusion by the commissioned and
sworn officer of the govern
Ilent in South Carolina. The
presumption which existed against
that work has been completely over
tArown, and a strong counter
presumption has been created by
verihcatlon, upon the ground Of
schedules of inhabitants, IN the case
Of 18 enumeration districts sue
cessively taken for special investiga
ton on account of their exception
ally questionable character.
Gen. Walker closes with a CON
sideration os the objection urgec
against the reasonablsness of the re
suit of the census of 1880, decided
from a comparison of the ratio of the
increase of the population in Soutl
Carolina between the years of 1922
and 1860, aDd that between 1866
and 1880. After sitting that th'
population of tie state Increased A.
per cent. during the first mentio net
per1oo OF 40 years add 4 per cent. o
same percentage between 1860 an,
1851, present period of only q
years, he says comparison. however
is not fair, without reference TO tn,
general census, operating dur;n,
two periods. From 1920 to 186t
South Carolina was the bee-f: "
from which swarms were continual
going to populate newer cotto
growing states OF the southwes
Between 1920 and 1880 immens
tracts of fertile lands, belonging I
the Greeks and Cherokees in Geor
gla, were ceded to the United State
ana were largely occupied by Sout
Carohnlans. Later in the period a
active emigration of whites. fror
South Carolina, sprung up and wa
maintained in favor of Ais
bamas Mississippi and Louisia
na while the South Carolin
negroes were sold in great number
to cultivate the cotton, rice an