New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-12
FOR PRESIDENT
HENRY CLAY.
international Copyright Law


tional Copyright Law" by Mr.. slmms' the au
thor addressed to the Hon. |. f. Holiness mem
her Of Congress. In the opening OF 1t VIC hno
this bold, but true proposition
az trust that will not be demanding 100 sioie
concession from any citizen, when we usss' ,,o.ns
that Literature of some KIND is aosoip''a; ;;i;d
ssrv 10 every nation that processes ~ III Jnfn;ta
II IS perhaps, the highest II no' ne oniod bot
proof OF national NOT enough for the wants
s,si eonle but in all cases where II Is stiisiS
~ " arcadc their own ii must prove uluihatGiy IA
~ % their moral il not their political independence
+, "a contended and on suihcient grouhos, 'ita' %
eonIe who receive their Literature exclusively rom
land are. in fact If not in form, essentially
Governed from abroad that their laws are iuf,lsh
ed # not prescribed by foreign, and, frequently
hostile power: and that, as ii is only through o"l
own minds that we can be free, so, when thcse are
surrendered 10 the tuteage of Strangers we are u
all intents and purposes, apeople IN bondage.
It is cheering to see our statesmen beginning
to wake up on subject of such paramount in'ef-
est. While we watch with scrupu!ous care the
action Of foreign nations on our Commercial ~
terests, and feel bound to cherish and strengthen
all the growing powers of the Republic, 1t IS
strange that our Literature should be deemed
worthy only to take care of itself. we VIII
not speak here Of the injustice OF this system
which makes mental labor valueless nor OF the
partiality of that protection which protects every
thing but the soul of the Nation; but would ask
attention to the effect on us as a people OF lhls
overwhelming flow of foreign works INTO our
country. Leaving alone its moral effect, we
loc IN pOutpmDdtp
litcal effect. If it be true that the prevailing
thought which enters the heart Of a nation moulds
and characterizes it, (and who can doubt lt?)
then tits impossible but that the performance al
foreign thought should produce foreign feelings
Its immediate effect may be seen only IN superb
cal matters but It's lasting impression will be lett
deeper The truth of this proposition is already
seen, in the seryiity our cities show to the arls
tocracy of the old country, the readiness with
which VIC initiate their customs, and court their
attention. 1t is seen IN the tlmldlty ol our re-
views. and the readiness with which VIC adopt
the praises or censures bestowed upon us by
foreign press Our best books must be published
abroad, and our whole literature look abroad to
see if it will be permitted to live or have rcpu
tation. That such a state Of things must and
does affect our very individuality as Nation, is
most palpable. And yet what is the argument
used against the passage oil an international
Copyright Law We have heard but one Of we
except the paltry objection that IT will raise the
price of foreign works. and that IS we ought not
10 shackle knowledge. :. 1t should be free the
light"
Butwe do not shackle knowlcdge-wc only
build llood-gatc to graduate the flow Of that
stream which brings more that needs to be un
learned, than learned To correct foreign alb
surditics-to be independent III higher sense
han in our manulactures-to be nation sell
formed and harmonlsing III our feelings with our
peculiar institutions, we must have a national
literature Form the soul of this nation on tor
,ign thought, as it WILL in time, be formed, If il
las no other, and we should receive greater dam
age than in the failure of almost any great ma
onal measure There is greater evil in the
present system than the mere strangulaton and
1eath of our national literature-it the adoption
n its stead; and influence OF a perncious foreign
,ne We say with Doctor Channiog, "let 9TH
ITS spin and weave for us, but let them not think
or u.s.
Taking this view of the case, we think that
here can be no subject worthicr OF Legislation, or
within 1t greater national interests
than this. 1t is not asking legislation merely
for particular class of wrongcd lndlvlduals-
though this were just-nor protection to American
mental Industry, though this also were incumbent
on us but it is asking that we may have home
literature 70 determine our own modes ot thought
and mould and educate our own people. 1t is a
short. sighted policy which makes all our welfare
yored at the expense of Manufactures, or the lat
ter sustained to the loss of the former, would be
one-sded policy that would be found to work out
of Joint. Just SO, these two, iostered by the
neglect, or rather the destruction of the mental
produce Of the country will end in loss of some
kind, and indeed of many kinds. AlL that con-
stitutes great nation, deserves the protection of
that nation-yet who has known truly great
people without a literature of their own, and how
can it exist without protection +?
u The Democratic Wing Young Mems Gen.
eral Committee for the year 1874, organized on
Tuesday evening last, by the election OF the fol-
lowing gentlemen as officers Dawn GRAHAM,
Chairman; GEORGE Rowland and NATHANIEL
q. BRADFORD, Assistant Chairman; CHARLES
X. TAYLOR and JOHN T. LoRroN, Secretaries !;
JouN RIDLEY, Treasurer.
LATER FROM ENcLANp.--The packetship
Switzerland, Capt, Knight, arrived yesterday
morning, bringing London dates to the 9th, one
day later. No additional news, except the state
Of the markcts which we nnote.