The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-12
TWENTY-NINT CONGRESS,
THURSDAY, March IL, 1886.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE.
The journal having been read,


Mr.. BRIGHT presented the memorial Of citizens
Of Pennsylvania and Delaware, praying that steel
may be admitted free Of duty; which was referred
20 the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. b. also presented petition Of citizens Of In.
diana, praying that the difficulties between Great
Britain and the United States in relation TO the Ore
gon territory may be settled by arbiration which
was laid on the table.
Mr. DIX presented a memorial Of citizens of
Livingston county, New York, praying the abro-
COTTON Of certain uerties made with the Seneca In-
dams; which was referred to the Committee on In
dian Affairs.
Mr.. CAMERON presented the petition Of George
Guier, guardian Of the orphan children Of John s.
Ards, deceased late carpenters mate in the naval
service, praying that they may be restored to the
pension roll; which was referred TO the Committee
on Pensions.
Mr.. ATHERToN submitted resolutions ps.ssd
by the legislature Of New Hampshire, in favor of
reducing the tariff TO a standard and estab-
fishing an independent treasury; which was referred
TO the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. CASS presented two petitions Of citizens of
Michigan, praying that channel Of communica.
ton may be opened between Lake Erie and the De-
trojt river which was referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Mr.. wESTCoTT presented the memorial If
James Bell and Allen s. johnson, praying permits
sion TO enter certain lands, on condition thai thew
drain the inundated lands adjacent thereto:
which was referred 10 the Committee on the Public
Lands.
Mr.. BARROW moved that the report of the
Secretary Of the Navy, in relation to Putnam's
plough-dredger, submitted several days since, be
printed for the Of the Senate; which motion was
agreed to.
Mr. CAMERON presented the petition of a
female anii-slavery society Of Pennsylvania, pray
ing alteration Of the constitution and laws Of the
United States, to absolve the citizens Of that State
from participating in perpetuatng slavery.
A motion was made and put, that the petition be
laid upon the tables which motion the chair decided
10 lie agreed to; when
Mr.. SPEIGHT said, although he seldom opposed
motions made for the reception of papers OK anv
kind, he found II necessary 10 object to that lust
made; and he did It from Of duty TO his con.
sttnents, regarding the petition as an unwarranta
Die interference with the rights OF property. He
asked the Senate TO meet 1t with a direct yote-by
no side-wipe, but directly; and he would insist on
having the yeas and maya on the question Of re-
consideration.
The PRESIDENT said the question of reception
was not before the Senate.
Mr.. SPEIGHT. raise that question and ask
The PRESIDENT. The question now is. on
laying the petition on the table
iAner some conversation between Messrs
SPElGHT, MANGUM, and CALHOUN, as to
the practice heretofore, the motion to lay upon the
table was agreed to.
On motion, it was ..N
Rssoissd That when the Senate adjourn 1t be to Monday
next
p REPORT COMMITTEE.
Mr.. WESTCOTT, from the Committee on IN.
Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill to estab-
hsh courts Of the United States and provide for the
due execution Of the laws of the United States. in
the State Of Florida, reported it without amend
ment - 1--a-' ---
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the re-
port from the Committee on Printing in favor of
the printing Of IS 900 copies Of the recent report of
the Commissioner Of Patents, without the list of
patents, and the amendments thereto; one to print
$4,000, and the other to print 10, 900 copies only
Mr.. ASHLEY remarked that he deemed il prop.
er to explain the motives which had induced him
to make the motion. 1t would be recollected that
this was an agricultural nation-more SO perbans
than any other nation on the face Of the earth By the
returns ofthe last census it found that more than
four-tfths OF the whole population-at least SO per
cent-were engaged in agricultural pursuits; leaving
II per cent. only engaged in mercantile manufac.
turing, and other pursuits Ofthat number, at least
four millions were male operatives engaged in the
cultivation Of the soil. And he would ask what
supply would $4,000 copies of the report furnish
to that number Honorable senators could easily
perceive how inadequate would be the supply-in-
hniely less than the proportion of the public print
ing applied 10 the benefit Of other classes Of the
community. Nearly the whole of the public print
ing for years past had been for the benefit Of the
small section--the IL per cent Immense, volu-
minous and expensive reports had been made for the
benefit OF the commercial interests and the manu.
features; and some reports had been made and print.
ed at no inconsiderabe expense for what purpose
it would be indeed difficult to tell Il had been
said that these documents were drug on the
hands OF the government and were sold at two
cents pound to the grocers. He had no hes
itation in saying that whatever might be the fact
with regard to other documents il was not true with
regard to the report Of the Commissioner of Patents
that 1t was drug in the hands of the government
II was sought for with the utmost avdity by
the agricultural community, and indeed by the
whole community, for il contained matter of
interest, not only to the agriculturists but to
all engaged IN the mechanic artss II was more
important and valuable to the great masses of
the people, than all the rest Of the documents
printed by order of Congress- But the honorable
senator from Connecticut, [Mr. Nnrsj asserted
that the matter of the report could be obtained from
other sources-insinuating, probably that the acis
sors had been chiefly employed in it's preparation,
lie SMr. Al supposed that the senator had not ia
ken the pains OF examining the document If he
had done so, he would have found that nine-tentbs
of the contents Of the report were original and ia
sued from the patent office exclusively being oath
cred IN response to inquiries made by themselves
All the matter relating to the improvement and
promotions Of agricultural science had been obtained
IN responseto inquiries instituted by the patent Office
he was ready to admit that some Of the matter
might have been condensed into smaller space
But as it was, it was the most important document
that could be circulated amongst the agricul-
tura' classes. Some gentleman The did not re-
collect exactly who il was-seemed to doubt
the constitutionalty of printing extra numbers
OF any, public document; that the constitution
required that the number Of copies should be
linlteu 10 that requisite 10 aid the legislation of
Congress. IL this were SO. all he conId aav was
uet lney hsu uniformly been in the habit of depart
ing widely from the provisions of the constitution in
tnat particular But he did not think that the view
was at all correct He apprehended that Il was le
ultimate and proper for them to male ,nv nnhI;.o-
ton calcuoted to disseminate information ,brouob-
out the masses OF the community, and Tor H. 49,.
Mt Of the great interests which the Senate
ed. He had no objection to establish an aer;cnl,,,-
raj department, as one gentleman had suggested n
there were no constitutional provision in the wsv.
he had no objection to appropriate literally for an
agricultural department that should take the specal
supervision Of the agricultural interests Of the whole
country--just as they now did the commerce and
manufactures Of the country. He apprehended that