The native American., 1837-08-19

the interests OF our feloW-cltlZens SaIe Wnen we
have such in power! And are the archives OF the
Government themselves safe when in the custody OF
men violently and personally opposed to the institutions
of our country? AMERICAN.
PATENT OFFICE.
Mr.. Editor: Is it not humilating, in the extreme,
to reflect that the whole inventive genius, of more than
fourteen millions of intelligent Americans, il, at this
tme subject to the criticism and judgment of three
Foreigners; whilst have amongst more than ten
thousand Native americans, far their superors in knowl
edge and science
At present shall not speak Of the official acts of
this Board Of Examiners, nor point out the slender
chance American Inventors have to receive justice
from such periudced men; but shall defer what have
to say on this points for another NUMBER and proceed
to draw the attention Of the public to the manifest i'm
plopriety Of entrusng our secret Archives into he
hands of Foreigners who hate the very that
fosters them.
Suppose for instance, in time Of war, between this
country, and any Of their governments an american
makes discovery in Torpedoes, or other destructive
articles of war, which will enable an American, in an
open boat, to blow atoms the largest ship in the
British Navy Gas ingenious countryman, Stephens
has already done how easy is it for Of these For
gn Board of Examiners, having entrusted to his care
all caueats Of unpatented discoveries and Inventions
as well as applications to be patented to communicate
the important secret to his king Why, sir, he would
instantly be rewarded with knghhood, and thousands
of pounds, for his treachery.
Again, suppose one of these Examiners, who was
once connected with distinguished man now residing
in London, should take it into his head to establish
partnership with this individual, for communicating to
him the first intelligence Of all important inventions
and discoveries made in the United States, to be pat
ented in England could he not easily accomplish this
end possessed as he is Of all the secret archives Of
the American Patent Office, with power to delay any
action for the security Of the American Inventor, until
the desired object should be accomplished and the
real Inventor deprived Of his propertys The writer OF
this article knows himself that thousands of dollars
have been offered by Foreigners for an agency that
would, in measure, accomplish the same object
It must be evident to every rejecting mind that it is
unwse dangerous, and highly improper to have this
important office filled by Foreigners. We have thou
sands Of our own countrymen far superior to these
men, in the requirements necessary to fill this Office,
who would do honor to it, and to their native counry
such men as Silliman, Drake, Smith, Dew and Hare,
men of real knowledge and science, who despise
quackery and charatansm.
Considering the American Patent Office as most
important branch Of our government for the promotion
Of Arts, Science, Agriculture, Manufactures and Com
merce, very important to the permanent wealth of
this growing nation, and that now erecting
noble building for the reception of this great national
museum of the arts and scienc es scale that will
do honor to our Republic, ard which know, from
tual observation, will not have its equal in Europe,
do hope that, whilst many modest natre 3mericans
Of real knowledge and Science, in contradistnction to
pretended aregradually coming forward from their
cluded retreats Of study, that will not suffer them to
be thrust aside by rude mpudent, gnoran foreigners;
bnt that we will make this Institution what it ought to
be- ooy american in its character, consistent with the
object of its establishment, and that shall long
er be insulted by Soiss, English, Irish French with
the impudent boast that dependent On foreigners
for Judges Of what is useful, in the inventions
of our own conntrymen.
In conclusion, for the present, would only ask, have
we not surpassed the whole world in statesmen and
Oratorsn naval Architecture, in the application of
steam to navigation and Rail Roads--in Rail Roads
and Canals, in cotton machinery and shall we suffer
ourselves to he told, that cannot procure natre
an.erica,s to fill the Examining Department of the A.
merican Patent Office?
Shame on our Government, that they should tolerate
this reproach! Shame countrymen, that they
suffer it! JEFFERSON.
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