The Washington herald., 1907-09-15

! shire, Vermont, and Maryland have been
| selected. In these States the names q
/ heads Of families IN 1870 were limited
! IN number. and the records are In a
| condition which makes transcription com
paradvcly easy
! II is to be hoped that Congress win
again grant authority and money for the
1 publication Of the remaining schedules.
I ip order that the entire series. so FAR rs
/ IL exists, may De complete. For several
Of the States for which schedules are
lacking 10 is probable that the director
Of the census could obtaiu lists which
would present the names OF most Of the
heads OF families AZ the cate of the drst
census. In Virginia, for example n State
enumeration was made In I7S5. OF which
some Of the original schedules are stiu
in existence. These would he likely TO
prove a reasonably satisfactory substi-
tute for the Federal list made five years
later.
The first census act was passed at the
second session OF the First Congress. and
was signed by President Washington on
March !. 1890. The task Of making the
first enumeration OF inhabitants was
placed upon the President Under this
law the marshal OF the several judicial
districts were required 70 ascertain the
number Of inhabitants within their re-
spective districts. emitting Indians not
taxed. and distinguishing free persons
dncluding those bound % service for "a
term of years.; the sex and color Of free
persons; and the number Of free males
sixteen years OF age Gnd over
The object of the inquiry last mentioned
was. undoubtedly, 20 obtain definite
knowledge as 10 the military and indus
trial strength Of the country. This fact
possesses special interest, because the
Constitution directs merely an cnumera-
ton Of inhabitants Thus. the demand
for increasingly extensive information.
which has been so marked a character
istic Of census legislation. began with the
First Congress that dealt with the sub
ject
The method followed by the President
In putting into operation the first census
law. although the object Of extended
investigation. is not definitely known II
is supposed that the President or the
Secretary Of State dispatched comics Of
the law, and perhaps of instructions
also, 10 the marshals. There is. however.
some ground for disputing this con-
clusou. At least one Of the reports in
the census volume OF I790 was furnished
by governor. This, together with the
fact that there is no record Of CORE
spondence with the marsnals on the sub
Ject of the census, but that there Is
a record Of such correspondence with
the governors, makes very strong the
inference that the marshals received
their instructions through the governors
Of the States. This inference is strength
ened by the fact that IN f7Q9 the
state Of Massachusetts furnished the
printed blanks and also by the fact that
the law relating to the second census
specifically charged the Secretary II State
10 supcrintend the enumeration and 10
communicate directly with the marshals
BY the terms Of the first census law
nine months were allowed in which 20 |
complete the enumerat ton. The census l
taking was supervised by the marshals |
Of the several judicial districts. who /
employed assistant marshals 10 act as
'numeTators. There were seventeen mar
5hals The records showing the number /
II assistant marshals employed i'm f7sa. /
500, and 1910 were destroyed by FIRE.
lut the number employed in 1850 has been /
estimated AT $50.
The schedules which these officials pre-
Dared consist of lists of names Of heads (
Il families; each name appears I'm stub. (
)r first column, which is followed by five
columns. giving details o. the family.
These columns are headed as follows:
Free white males. sixteen years ard upward, in-
.sd'ng heads cf families
Free white males under sixteen years.
Free white females, including heads Of families
al ether free persons.
Saves.
he assistant marshals made two copies
# the returns; In accordance with tEo
aw one copy was posted IN the immediate
.elghborhood for the information Of the
,ublic and the other was transmitted 10
he marshal in charge, to be forwarded
0 the President. The schedules were
urned over by the President to the