The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-07
From die NJ Y. Evening Post.
THE BOOK PUBLISHERS ON COPYRIGHT

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The other day we referred to the movement Of the
American Copyright Club, composed chiefly OF au-
,hors and editors, in favor Of the rights Of literary
property. We are to-day enabled 10 show how that
movement has been seconded by class OF citizens,
whose interests have been supposed 10 conflict with
those authors we mean, the publishers, whose me-
mortal to Congress follows;
To the Honorable Tie Senais and House Of Representa-
apes Of the United States in Congress assembled
The undersigned, Publishers and Vendors Of Books
in the United States respectfully represent to your
Honorable Body, that deeply interes ed as they are
not only booksellers IN particular but also as Anne
rcan citizens in general in the greatest possible dii
fusion Of knowledge and sound literature, they feel
fully convinced, by their experience traders IN
books, that the present law regulating literary pro-
perty is seriously injurious both 10 the advancement
OF American literature, and to that very extensive
branch OF American industry which comPrehends the
whole mechanical department Of book making. IL
is alike injurious to the business of publishing and to
the best and lrucs interests oithe people at large
Your memorialists, after careful and mature con
sderaton of the important subject are fully satisfied
that the great interest Of knowledge and ndustry-o
those who provide the community with reading, and
of the vast reading community sef-would be most
essentially promoted by the passing Of law which
would secure to the authors OF all nations the
sole right TO dispose of their compositions for pub-
cation IN the United States, (whether they may be
published in foreign countries not) provided, al
ways, the book be printed in the United States with
in certain time (to be settled by law after its pub
lication IN foreign count and provided, also, that
the copyright for this country shall be transferable
from the author to American resident publishers N.Y.
Your memoralists are satisfied that this equitable
protection would enable the publishers to furnish
their fellowcitZeDs both with foreign and American
literature in such forms and at such prices would
truly meet the wants as well as the means of the peo-
ple while the writers of books would receive the just
compensation for their labor and talent wherever
their works may be read Your memoriasts are of
opinion that The interests Of authors publishers aud
purchasers, are reciprocal, those OF the producer
and consumer always are.
Your memorlalsts would also refer TO the fact hat
no more than measure such they respectfully bu'
urgently desire, is Necessary in order
TO American au hors copyr ght for The books In
Great Britain
Your memoralisls, therefore, respectfully request
your Honorable Body TO take into consideration the
present law of copyright in The United States and to
enact such law secure TO the authors of foreign
nations the right to dispose Of their works to Ameri
can publishers to be printed in this country, providing
that such ght shall extend TO the authors Of those
countries only, whose governments have granted or
may grant reciprocal privilege TO our authors and
with such other provisions as may seen 10 your wis
dom TO lie desirable and just.
And your me norialists, &c &c.
gives US pleasure state that this application has
been Pned by twenty-five of the principal booksel-
iers of Boston; thirty-six in the city of New York
eigh teen in Philadelphia; twenty 10 New Haven
Hartford, and Salem besides Iaige number of 9TH
in Utica, Buffalo, and other cities and towns in
the interior of the country. We i, the names
of firms that may be supposed 10 do thrce-ou tbs ii
no, more, of all the pubIcaii IN that is done in the
u nited States.
The memorials, il will be SEEN urge the necessity
OF legislation TO secure the rights o.! authors both
the ground of their own immediate pecuniary interest
in the reform, and of the large interests Of the
munity in a higher and better native literature
They recommend the passage Of law establishing
the sole right Of the writers of all nations TO dispose
Of their compositions, which is placing the matter in
the best position But regret that certain limi-
tlons 10 transferring the right &C., coupled
with this recommendation; It would have been bet
ter to rest the thing on the broadest grounds.
We shall not, however quarrel with the booksel-
crs for this slight departure from what consider
true policy on the subject We are eioced so much
to see their eyes at last opened to perception Of JUS
tce, that find only words OF gralulati and
approval in vocabulary. Their testimony is in
the highest degree valuable They are practical
men they engaged in that part Of the book busi-
ness which makes them familiar with its details and
they are the most capable Of any class Of society
of forming opinion 10 the probable operation OF
any prospective law, on the pecuniary affairs Of the
trade. Heretofore, il has been supposed, that the
better regulation Of literary property would only
inure TO the benefit Of book writers but now
told that publishers won d share in the advantage.
All the same time, learn that the wants Of read
ers and the Of advancing knowledge, would
suffer no injury from the change