The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-04

Roman citizen, stating, Z" With great sum pur-
chased ! this ireedom;" but Paul replied, "Itcds
free-born."
This is the distinction which we wish to be
drawn: if the oppressed or prosecuted OF other
countries flee to us for refuge or protection, let
th0m become the FREEDMEN oil the United States,
bu, let us remain the FREE-BoRN. Let them pos
sess full protection of life and property-afford
them every facility in the pursuit Of happiness;
but keep them from the polls.
Fellow-citizens, the times are such as to ask oil
every American citizen to take these remarks ser-
ously into consideration; and, feeling the great i'm
por,ance Of an alteration in our naturalization
laws, we shall, in our future articles, further
illustrate the evils to be apprehended, and urge
the adoption of the measures proposed.
The last number of the New Yorker contains
a very able article on the INTERNATIONAL COPY
RIGHT LAW; the object of which is to show 1t is
for the interest of American Literature that this
law should be established, no less than for the
general interest OF the community. The strong
grounds taken are, that the alleged advantages of
the cheapness afforded'to the public in the reprint
offoreign works, are only seeming; that the pre-
sent system of cheap competition damps and dis
courages American genius; that the style, mate
rial and execution of cheap reprints must be in
feror TO the originals, and too often erroneous,
slovenly and mutilated; that the first and most
imperfect editions of Foreign works are stereotyp-
ed and their errors perpetuated amongst US, too
often dcbarring our reading public from the adj
yantages of new and improved editions; that un
der the influence of the present law we get but
reprints, of the lighter portions of foreign litera-
tlTe, while the great historical, scientific and
really useful books remain entirely unknown to
us; that the object Of our publishers is rendered
entirely mercenary, the sole aim being to throw
of and sell the greatest possible number of books
thus reprinted; that in this way an appetite for
novel reading and trashy productions is created ::
and that we are thus, on the whole, constrained
to become dependent upon the mercenary motives
Of publishers for our literature, while the very
operation of that cupidity excludes us from the
advantages of holding out incentives to the DOR
mant intellect of our own country. To this is
opposed the only advantage of the present system,
the cheapness with which the public can be sup
piled with the productions Of foreign genius. is
there not moral as well as national injustice in
this argument? The shining lights of genius
belonging to no country-they are scintillations
from that divinity which gives the world its sun
shine and to all nature its vitality. Great and
good men are "the lights of the world they
the benefactors Of mankind from the habi table
regions Of the North to the limits of civilization in
the South. The emanations of their minds per-
wade and enlighten all longitudes, and they alone
are the true citizens of the world England may
claim local pride in being the mere birthplace
of a Bacon, Newton, and a Locke, but has she
ever denied to other nations the pride of claiming
them as their benefactors and the ornaments of
their race America is justly proud of her
Washington, but has she denied other nations the
profit they derive from holding him up to their
counrymen as patriot sage, and man "whose
like they ne'er shall look upon again -
Authors whose works cnlighten, amend, and
enlarge the human mind-who add to that men
tai ascendancy which raises us above mere animal
instincts are citizens of every country and en-
titled to the protection of those upon whom they
she'd their benefcence, wherever they are appre-
ciated. On principles of policy no less than
moral justice we are bound to advocate the In
ternational Copyright Law; and we gladly hail
the bold stand taken by the enlightened portion
Of the eastern press in its favor as an evidence of
the prevailing unity of justice policy and common
sense.-Lou. Gaz. .E