Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-14

RICHMOND VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY Ia, lsff.
OREGON TERRITORY.

| Mr.. LINN, in pursuance Of previous notice, asked
leave to Introduce joint resolution to authorize the
adoption Of measures for the occupation and settlement
Of the Territory Of Oregon, and for extending certain
portions of the laws ofthe U. S. over The same
Mr. LINN said that when this bill was up at the last
session for discussion, both his political trends ana OPP
ponents pressed him to orbear urging during the ne
gotiatons with the British Government tor the ADJUST
ment Of another question:, from fear oil embarrassing
its settlement This not at the time convincing lo
him, but it was sufficient for him that 1t was the adVce
Of gentlemen of experience and he had acted IN accord
ance with it. His opinion was that 1t would he octe
to put the whole Of their claims on Great BRIAN TO-
gether and see what could be done with them but ne
never expected that they would be amcabiy ADJUSTED
The history of the British Government afforded nm sa
siactory evidence this subject He believed
~ one there would c numbered with the dead before the
British Government would amcably settle que on o
this nature lthis memory served hun ,hg'aiu
bending the n otst;ons Client, had been willing 70
purchase that territory; lie did not mean to say thcre
was any formal offer made, but finding that no such
arrangement could be entered into, she had, step ny
STEP made progress in territorial encfoachmcnt un'
she presented to the world claim oil great import
ance where she had not even the shadow OF rlIht
and such would be the 4. every point OIL Tie
contest with Great Britain. The British had extend
ed their possessions, step by STEP from the extreme
branch Of Columbia river TO the Pacific Ocean.
By letter which he had recently received, nc
learned that the Hudson Bay Company was introducing
EN- grants from Great Britain By Cape Horn; they
brought shepherds and placed then on farms they ad
erected British forts the Territory oil Oregon ana
had pushed their establishments on the South 10 CaiI-
iornia and on the East to the Rocky mountains; and
by act ii Parliament, portion OF the criminal law
Of Great Britain continued up to the very cohIhes
of The States of Arkansas aud Missouri Now, ii we
have Just right and clam 10 that property he was not
The man say should he abandoned 10 any pow"! on
earth. Ile was prepared and wiling 10 go into DIS
clssion Of the whole subject here iii voyed. lie 'aa
bccn ccnsured by many gentlemen from all parts OF Inc
Union for not having pressed tins question before whe
he delayed 1t because on the suggestion OF othtrs, i
was not willing To introduce n new element pending
The question relative TO the Northeastern boufdary-
He would not occupy the time of the body further on
this occason but should tie Senate grant Tor the intro
nction of the joint resolution, he would embrace the
opportunity when II came up Tor consideration 10 SUP
mt his views moro in detail
Leave being granted, the Joint resolution was nitro
duced, read first and second time, and referred %
select committee ct "e, consisting OF alessfs Linn,
Walker Preston, Pierce, and Sewer
THE PATENT OFFICE.
On motion nv Mr. STURGEON, The bill making
certain appropriations for tie Patent Office was taken
up and considered in committee OF the whole
The bill having been read,
Mr.. CALHOUN hoped these appropriations would
be stopped This Patent Office growing up into
new department of the GoveTnment-a lone Depart
ment. We had made appropriation OF S90,uc0 Tor
the erection oil Patent Office, and there had been con-
s,ruced magnificent palace, with splendid galleries.
m an expense Of hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
He was utterly opposed 10 this creating new depart
mont in this Government, and more especially by m
direction, in the present instance where those vino
we're designed by law to be merely superintendent %!
the Patent Office were assuming superintendent
over the entire agriculture and mechanics of the coun-
Try. 1
Mr.. TAPPAN inquired whether the $3.50 proposed
10 be appropriated for Library TO purchase books
for the officers in the Patent Office.
Mr. STURGEON said it for the purchase Of
scientific books, which necessary To enable the
officers In carry on the business Of the office.
Mr. TAP9AN objected 10 appropriation for the
purchase OF hooks 10 enable the head of that depart
me n, to qualify himself for the discharge Of the duties
of the Office 10 which he had been appointed IL had
now become too common with the heads nf depart
ments to have separate and valuable libraries aud II
was time it should be stopped. lie moved that the
section in question b. struck out OF the bill.
MIR. PRENTISS explained the necessity Of the ap-
propration, il was 10 enable the officer to learn whe-
thcr what offered as new and useful inventions
were really new as on the determination of that fact
would rest the grant Of the patent Books were pub
lished periodically, containing descriptions OF all new
patented articles here and in Europe, and it Of the
creates, Importance that the officers should have these
books as works of reference
Mr.. PRESTON also defended the appropriation
but suggested variation Of the phraseology OF the
section of the bill TO obviate mistake. tie was IN
clincd to believe If the object to purchase ma
terias enable the officer to form correct judgment
the articles for which patents were desired, 'at
should he agreed to.
MIR. PRENTISS moved as amendment the fol-
lowing words as substitute for the words III the sec
ton "or the purchase Of such scientific books as are
for the Patent Office 800.
Mr. IAPPAN thercupon withdrew has notion
Mr.. CALHOUN moved to strike ont that part oil the
bill making an appropriation for the collection OF agr
cultural statistics &c lie knew not what that had to
do with Patent Office. He objected To this gradual
and almost mperccptblc growth of expenditures by
indirect means they had seen enough Of these things
and he moved TO strike out the appropriation Of 1000
for that purpose, aud lie caed LOT Tue ayes anu HUGS vi
the question.
The ayes and noes were ordered.
MIR. STURGEON said By striking out Ibis section,
they would strike out the vital part of the bill The
service which this sum was intended 10 femuhel1'''
had already been rendered.
MIR. CALHOUN said no officer had the right TO 20
beyond the appropriations, and lie hoped the section
would be struck out, as warning to officers not 10 60
beyond the appropriations III future.
MIR. MaNGUll said the design of the Patent once
vas for the preservation Of the patents OF the country
and he was unwilling that the power winch had oeeh
here should be allowed thus to creep upon
them and to cover other ground than that or'shni'y
desirned He could not approve CT great snow oe
ing thus prepared BY ndlrection nj the punf
Al The rcourst CT alr STURGEON, letter was read
from the Commissioner Of Patents. IN which nc "rsea
the necessity for these appropriations
Mr. SEWER concurred IN the suggestions OF Inc &C,
na,or from S. Carolina, Mr. Calhoun, that tins shouio
be put stop to- but they had got the articles, u,
thought they should be paid for and they could prevent
its recurrence in future.
Mr. WEBSTER, 10 guard against mlsapPTehens'nn'
explained that one item Of expenditure was Tor me pun
lication of digest of the patents and the DOCKS u Will
ausion was made, periodicals on Tue smnre' "
inventions which were to the proper DISCHARGE
H.. J,,.;. g fI,,
for agricultural statistics lie would not continue
he bad no doubt of their constitutional right 70 90
They had constitutional right, he had no d"uD' 10
pend money in procuring information on the suss. :"
agrculture the products of agriculture were ale'es
that were interchanged between the various pa..s %
the Union and consequently ii must be as npor,an.
part of their duty to inform thrnsrsss Iy
statistics as it was 10 acquan themselves rtsPros"s
cotton planting, susn making and all other Articles "i
in Tie county But aa not seem and 10 thew
had no ripht TO make any appropriations fer duties
which were not prescribed By law.
Mr.. CALHOUN differed from the Senator iron,
ass.cLnset,s in toto respecting their Constitutional
r"ht to make these appropriations And as to some Of