New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-02-21
Justice to Authors.

We publish on our Last Page the conclusion OF
our Report of the D1sSEH TO Mr. D1cKExs, con-
sisting Of the Letters of Rev. Dr.. wainwright and
Major Downing to the Committee and the Speech
of Mr.. MATHEWS in regard to INTERNATIONAL
COPYRIGHT, for which we especially ask the con-
sideration Of our readers. The question is one Of
universal and BY no means trihing interest and is
hitherto We must be permitted to add few
words in support Of its positions.
How shall it be commended bv any unwarpcd, in
genuous mind that the Author has not a clear, alb
solute, indefea,ible Right of Property in his own
Productions in every part of the World What
possible act Of human wit or effort shall give a
clear title if his does not 7 How shall it be main
TUNED that the man. whether citizen or alien, who
Stays the deer in tho common forest, who lures the
fish from the wild mountain stream, or tracks the
bee to his secret hive, shall have exclusive proper
ty in the spoils which he ha, appropriated from
the common stores of the Race while the Author,
who builds out into infinite space-who peoples
drearv Chaos with the bright and beautiful crea-
lions Of his genius, shall have nome but be left the
prey of all who covct, andwhosc covetousncss will
of course be just in proportion to the value and
productvcncss of the fruit Of his labors Tho
denial Of Protection to the Rights of Authors is
not merely mpohtc and unjust, but Il positive and
fragrant robbery.
Most absurd is the cavl which affirms the in
tangibility of Literary Property-thc impossbiity
OF defining and securing it. Society submits to
Law and Government mainly to ensure the pro-
lection of those rights which stretch out beyond
the reach the individuals sword-arm-beyond the
range Of his rife. 1t is cmphatically because
tho Rights of the Author arc easily subvered that
we invoke for him the protection of that shield
which should be broad as the domain of civilized
existence.
We loathe to speak OF this matter in the light o.!
Policy, when the demand of Justice is so clear and
urgent. He who does not know that what is lust
is always cminently polite is beyond the reach Of
our argument. All who are in Literary vocations
well know that our robbery Of the Foreign Author
dooms the American to neglect and want; for what
bookseller will buy his manuscript when he can
reprint the last popular London novel from fair
type and shining paper without even the ceremony
of saying BY your leave 2 Thus ten British
books to one American are read by our People
and the Intellect and Taste of tho Country kept
Unfortunately in Colonial vassalagc
The Author should hold his Book BY the same
tenure as his wheat if he were a farmer, or his
axes if a blacksmith. Copyright i. ut best u
s1udging restoration Of part of what Society has
uniustly taken. Barnaby Rudsc belongs TO Boz
and Brucebridgc Hall TO Irving just as clearly
and perpctually as the Aston House to Mr.. Astor,
or the OK to the grazier. If justice were done by
our laws Genius would no longer be forced by
hunger to pander to the dcpravity of the age, TO
the narrow prejudice of nation. We should no
longer pamper Ainsworths and Marryats while
furnishing Colerdges and Nordsworths But We
have not space TO pursue this theme People OF
the United States. we ask you to petition Con
gress for Justice to Authors. We appeal to you
to urge upon our Government that tr1ie and lofty
National Policy which aims to nerve the heart tina,
BEATS the arm that strikes for the Elevation OF
Man