The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-30

suggeEted. Sec. A, OF, AFt.22, provides
that "Ab enumeration of tho Inhabitants
~ shall be- made 4 in 1876,
and ahall be made In Che course of every
tenth year thereafter, in such manner as
shall be by Law directed" The Legisa.
ture at its last session failed to pass the
bill which this section of the Consti!u.
ton requires, in as plain terms as the
English language can convey. 1t, how.
ever, docs not defeat the execution of the
constitutional requirement, for the follow.
ing section. (6) Of the same article
provides that "If the enumeration herein
directed shall not be made in the course
OF the year appointed for the purpose, it
ohall be the duty of tho Governor 10 have
1t effected as soon thereafter as shall be
practicable" The provision, therefore,
is, that If tho Legislature fail to have
the enumeration made within the time
provided by law, then the Governor shall
have 1t done as soon thereafter as practi.
cable. Perhaps a strict literal copstruc.
ton Of this section might require the
Governor TO delay action until next year,
as the Legislature has the whole of the
present year, under the Constitution, to
have the enumeration Of the inhabitants
of the State made, but it is now abso.
lutely certain that the census will not be
taken under legislative enactment this
year. The body has adjourned without
providing for 1t, and does not meet again
in time to have the enumeration made
this year. The Legislature has no power
to provide for the enumeration to be
made next year therefore; there can be
no reasonable doubt that the census, If
taken at all, must be taken under action
by the Governor, either now or next year.
The Legislature may differ upon the
features of particular bill. and fail to
obey O provision of the Constitution, but
we apprehend the Governor will not
ignore his plain duty under the Constl.
tuition, and that the census will be taken
under his direction. Then when shall It
be done The letter of the Constitution
may ino. to next year, but It's spirit is
that after the provision for the census 10
be taken every tenth year is neglected 10
be executed, as soon as practicable tho
Governor shall have 1t taken. The fail.
ure to take 1t is now apparent.
It 10 now certain that the census will
not be made this year, as provided in the
Constitution, and that it will be incum.
bent on tho Governor to act In the
promises. The object Of the Constitution
is to have the census in every tenth
year. If the Governor delays, it will de-.
feat the very object of the Constitution.
The failure to make tho census In the
time, is the source of the Governors
power and duty. The failure has already
been made and the Governor will have
to act, and the duty to act being now
certainly fixed upon him, it seems to uH
that In view of tho fact that immediate
action by him would tend to the advan.
tage Of the State, by getting the greater
part of the expense of the work betrayed
by tho general government, as woll aa
the fact that the spirit and purpose Of
the Constitution would bs carried out,
1t seems to as that the Governor should
proceed at once to have the census taken
In conformity to the Act of Congress, by
which we would draw nearly sufficient
sum to defray tho expenses of the work
| In order. however, that there might be
no failure In the matter, it would be
we'll for Governor Thompson to apply tc
Secretary Lamar to know if he would
pay for census taken under his direo
tion. If 40, the State would heartily
approve the Governor In organizing tht
census work Immediately. The Senate
ought to have passed the House bill ant
provided for 1t last Winter. The Cover
nor may, however, by proceeding nuw
remedy the matter and save the State 3
heavy expense next year.