The second sentence of this section was framed in the belief that the States, rather than lose a portion of their representatives in Congress, would grant the right of suffrage to negroes already declared to be citizens.  But proportional reduction of representatives was never put into practical operation, for before the next apportionment of representatives, Amendment XV became a part of the Constitution, and negro suffrage was put on the same basis as white.  However, the enforcement of Section 2 of Amendment XIV has been strongly urged in our own time.  This is because it is estimated that many thousands have been disfranchised through the restrictions on the right of suffrage found in several of our State constitutions.  Some require an educational test and others a property qualification for voting.

The “Indians not taxed” doubtless refers to those Indians who still maintain their tribal relations or who live on reservations in the several States.  Their member, according to the census of 1910, was 129,518.

Early Apportionment.—­The number of representatives to which each of the States was originally entitled is given in Section 2, Clause 3, of the article we are now considering as follows:—­

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons.  The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct.  The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

The three-fifths rule was rendered void by the adoption of Amendment XIII, which abolished slavery, since there were no longer the “other persons.”  That part of the clause which provides for the laying of direct taxes is still in force.

The Census.—­In order to carry out the provision of the Constitution, an “actual enumeration” was made in 1790.  Since that date there has been a census every ten years.  The taking of the census and the compilation and publication of the statistics connected with it are under the supervision of the director of the census.  Work on the thirteenth census was begun April 15, 1910, and required some 65,000 enumerators, 3500 clerks, and 1800 special agents.  The cost was some $12,000,000.  The most important volumes found in the report are those on population,[14] manufactures, and agriculture.  The taking of the census will, in the future, be more economical and efficient because of the establishment of the permanent census bureau by an act of Congress in 1902.