History of the New York Census. 121 



17th. — 18th. Aliens and colored persons not taxed. 

 These questions being required by the constitution, leave 

 us no discretionary power as to their adoption, and a uni- 

 form set of rules for their reduction is all that can be done 

 towards perfecting the result. 



In the census of 1855, it sometimes happened that a per- 

 son would be marked as alien, when it appeared he was 

 of native birth, on the converse. It might happen that the 

 column of ages showed a minor, or the wife or minor 

 children of a naturalized voter might be marked as aliens. 



In these cases it was assumed that the age, and place of 

 birth were correct, and by a carefully prepared set of rul- 

 ings, based upon the federal law of naturalization these 

 columns were accurately revised and corrected before any 

 summary was made. Uniformity, and equal justice to 

 every section was thus secured for the representative 

 number. 



19th. Persons over 21, who cannot read and write. This 

 is a most valuable item, and will compare with that of 1855 

 in the reduction. In the federal census, the limit of age 

 is 20 years. The change was made, because our school 

 laws entitle all minors from 4 to 21 to school privileges. 



20th. Owners of lands. This will compare with the inqui- 

 ries of 1850, 1855 and 1860, although the reduction were 

 made only in 1855. 



21st. Deaf and dumb, Blind, Insane and Idiotic. Hereto- 

 fore only one column has been provided for recording these 

 unfortunates, and nothing was enquired of them except 

 what was obtained in the preceding columns on the line 

 of their names. 



Eor the census of 1865, I recommend the following 

 method, and invite for it your careful attention and 

 criticism : 



I would furnish only a narrower column, in which to 

 enter simply "1" as an indication that the person has 



