The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-19
The Census Question,


The Census Question.
Mr.. EDITOR Some time back I noticed the
different parties then busy condcmuiug the Leg
isaturc in regard to the ccnsus bill. The most
respectable. and, indeed, the only argument
worthy of consideration being made by those
who condemned on constitutional grounds,
noticed more particularly their complaint !:
THAT the constitution commands that an emu
| meration shall be made X and
that it was the duty of he Legislature to mako
an appropriation for such enumeration" had
not leisure at that time to notice ut any length
the numerous positions of that class. would
not be understood as saying that the class is so
large that the number Of positions must or mi cht
be large, but that the vacillaiing cha, acter of
them causes mass Of opinions which one could
attribute ouly to lIowling Mob.
l took The position that The complaint is more
than met by The bill which makes the United
States census as the basis Of apporiionmeut l
tried to show, in its favor, that it would have
the enumeration accomplished at the least cost
possible and as correctly as possible. propose
now to investigate The objections to this bill.
In order to do this more easily and effectively
/ must make division of The Yellers for while
| all of them seem to think that the constitution
has been treated badly. they do not agree as to
the amount of damage. The first clrss claim
simply that the bill is uncons;i utiona, since the
constitution is so explicit, etc. The second class
claim that it is not only uncons itutonal, but
that it is not as effective in point of time, as
bill after the manner of the constitution. The
third, vaci!la'iug class, which, though they do
| not properly belong to the Yellers-some being
ambitious of a position among the Screamers, q
large number attaining only mediocrity among
the Howlers-I am compelled, since they affect
slight touch of the constitutional irritation, 10
mention them under this head, in order to COM
plete the division. 1t may be noticed here that
have already referred the Scrcamers to Che
letters of Messrs. McGrady and Brawley. To
the Howlers have nothing to say, therefore
WI dismiss this third division, by saying that
they are generally defeated candidates, etc,
much given to writing lengthy articles in county
newspapers, never venturing, however, more
han criticism,
Let me now proceed 10 invest yate the consti=
tutional objections to the bill which makes the
as they are made by the divisions under the
Yellers. The first being that the bill is simply
unconstitutional Allow me to quote from Sec
tion 4, Art. 2, on this subject: 'An enumeration
Of the inhabitants for this purpose (apportion-
ment) shall be made in 1860 and again in 1876,
and shall be made in the course of every tenth
year thereafter as shall be by law directed and
Representatives shall be assigned to different
counties in the above mentioned proportion by
Immediately succeeding every enumeration
That may be exactly fair I quote the above
part Of Section A, with reference to the enumer-
a,ion.
Again, allow me to quote, in behalf of myself,
Art l Sec. 3: 'All political power is vested
in and derived from The people only; therefore
they have the right at all times, 10 modify
their government in such manner as
they may deem expedent, when the public good
demands
endeavored to show in an article some time
back that the bill under consideration did meet
the requirements Of the public Interests, and Z
is now LETT to assert, under the last quoted sec
ton, that the Legislature had the light to abolish
the present manner of making the enumera lon
and to substitute new mode, who 'cby The pub
lie good would be promoted and protected by
economy and justice. l hope I need not say
that do not claim for the Legislature the exclu-
sive right 10 the power OF modifying or destroy
ing laws, even though they be Tor the good of
the State. 1t is power delegated by the people
to the law. maker, to be exercised by him. and
upon constitutional questions, to be exercised by
him in conjunction with the people. Phe man
ner OF exercising the power by the law-maIer
in conjunction with the people, is prescribed
by the constitution. II must be accomplished
through the means Of an amendment TO tho
cons,i. ution. Amendments may be pronosed in
either house and, after receiving a iwo-thirds
vote Of both houses, must be submitted to the
judgment Of the people. The Legislators have
complied with Their duty laid down in the
amendment. They used the power given them
by the people, they used it constiiutionally, and
thoy now submit their action to the judgment of
the people. The bill, therefore, originating and
growing undec such conditions, must be constl-
tutional.
On account Of the length of this article, Mr..
Editor, i beg you viii allow me TO finish the in.
vestigation Of the second objection next week,
and perhaps there will be further development
of the third, which will give me Q better oppor-
tunity of forming diagnosis of It's peculiar case.
NJ