The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-19
From the ". Y. Evening Post
THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION.


You will see general copy right law passed by
this Congress. Ii you expect them TO legislaie intel
ligently and justly on that subject you will expect in
vain said literary friend to us yesterday and We
could not help agreeing with hun. Let US address
ourselves fof IN men 10 the members of Congress OH
this subject
eff We believe gentlemen that you will not legis-
late Justly and nelligeny THIS subject, il is not
because VIZ suppose that you have sufficient intel
lect or honesty TO do fyou would take the trouble
to understand the question, bu, there is p obab bill
ty that you will take the trouble. You are engaged
in other matters you have a great game TO play YOU
are divided into democrats and Wing and YOU have
to watch each other movements and To provide for
securing victory al the next residential election
The copyright question is part of this game. Some
of you will regard II AZ idle and impairment epi.
sode, which no man has a right to thrust upon your
attention while you are occupied with Affairs of so
much greater Importance. Others, seeing that il is
not made party question, will take it Tor granted
that II may be safely left TO make its way tbr, uph
Congress by It's own merits, and thereE re- will no,
interest themselves to examine II. Others 30 ain not
seeing II discussed IN the principal journals The
part es, viii never be aware that such question il
before the country. We happened TO mention II no,
long since TO distinguished representative Of one of
our oldest and most popuIous State who ack nowlep.
ed that he had not heard Il It before.
we fear, gentlemen, that these three classes in
clude almos, every men Der Of Congress II YOU
would take the pains to understand The ,uhieet W.
think you would have no temptation 10 90 rong but
we fear that you will not pay attention enough ltbc
matter TO look beyond the superficial Consideration.
which have made our copy right law he partial and
mi chie'ous thing il is.
Zone Of yout men beTs Mr. C ] Iu,srsou or
Philadelphia, has jus, introduced bi extending the
Term OF copyright aud making other provis ms
Tor me security Of literary property. We doubt Dot
the liter NY OF his Intentions toward the literature of
our country, but the final seci,n VI his BILL which
limits the copyright 10 citizens or residents in I'M.
country, destroys tie value Of the rest The mischief
Tor which we seek remedy il this, that in conse-
queoce Of our copyright laws American literature H.
driven from the market and supplaned by the Ii era
iure Of Great Britain. The authors of Britain form
the minds OF our people from the earliest eiod Of
life and our Own authors are overpowered and s.nc
ell by the multitude Of British rrpnblIca,ions The
true remedy l., TO at foreign Su hors and American
authors on an equs footing in regard To- a copyright
but THIS Mr.. lnger-oll- bill does not conie,ri ,te
vi what use IS II TO extend the term OF literar,
property, and hedge II round with new securities n
you allow law TO stand which depryes IL Of all va
lue' How can II be expected that publishers will
ever purchase book from an American author
when they can &c, book from England for nothing J
The law a. 1t now stands says: This mans pro
perry is sacred but that mans you NAV ph,nder
freely you must buy this mans goods il YOU want
| them but you may take that mans goods without
paying for them How can IL be expected tb,, he
whose goods you protect from robbery will be able
TO sell them, as long you point TO another whose
ment with my constituents TO con6de in the Dero
cratic party. Who shall say that II Is reserved for
this Congress TO blast all our homes and disbonor
and abuse our confidence,
Mr. Speaker, ! voted 10 reconsider the vote nv
which ibis question postponed; and | voted
against laying The subject the table II is whis-
pered around me that the postponement of the re-
port OF the committee, or laying il on the table
would leave the rules Of the last Congress of force
IN tins Hall. ! know it, But will not resort 70
ihls sort ct legislative tnse TO retain temporarily
what we have right openly 10 demand IS per-
manent rule of the House ! will not con.
sent to Juggle this rule into a sort of Temporary
equivoca existence, by artifoe and parliamentasy
manGuvre No, sir, we ask it, we demand il. boldly
and fearlessly, but respectfully, Of our political
friends, upon direct rois. want 1t openly and d.
recty voted, or not at ALL Give us the rule As il
stood in the last Congress, or vote il down If
there be any hinching LET US know it. Those who
are not ior us are against us there can be no hale
way mouse mere ! have no policy, no compromise
on tins question. The South has lost TOO much nv
compromises TO make her eager for them now T,lL
mol TO me OF Democrat, or Wing, Of policy or man
agenent on this question for however am dis,osed
TO contdc IN my political brethren, when Abojuio,.
ism lifts IFS Gorgon head in this House know NO
party but that which sustains the rights and interest,
OF my constituents and the guarantees of the Const
,uuon' Nhen ths question comes again fore the
House from the committee will speak moro a,
large on the subject | have but TO repeat emnb.n'
caiJ the hope have so ardently INDUCED that the
House viii Instruct the committee 10 70 enact tho
oid 2ls rule, and drive from among US the wild fan,
TIC who would apply his torch to our homes and bah-
itatlons, and TO this fair temple of Liberty Aim,
him not into this Hall, for he will day after dsv
os' hteorsnds among US, that viii eventually burs
ms glorious Union into a thousand atoms I all
Mr. Speaker, that the yeas and nav. nav no record
ed on my motion,