The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-20

of which the bulky document was composed, Just
one and half were devoted 10 the Patent Office
All the remainder Of the volume was composed OF
I letters from very scientific gentlemen, and very
learned lecturers and extracts from the Farmers
Magazine, Z" the GARNER and Mechanic" and news
papers Thirty or forty pages were devoted TO the
planting Of bempi then there were erudte dsserta-
lions on the rot in the Irish potato-learned disqui-
tons the most appropriate regimen for dyspep-
tic hens and dropslea geese-and absruse inyestga-
tons into the mOduS operandi Of artificial manures
Now, all that was very well in its way, and he (Mr.
was very DESTROYS to see useful practical infor-
nation on all subjects connected with agriculture
difused throughout the land. But he did not be-
heye that Congress had any right TO appropriate
large sums Of the public money for the purpose Of
keeping up an immense establishment, and hock
ofmunlheenty paid officials, whose principal BUSH
ness appeared TO be the getting up an elabo-
rate report annually with the help of news
papers, magazines and scissors and paste. Mr..
| ). then enumerated the various officers connected
with the Patent Office, with the salaries received by
each. He then adVerted TO the seeds" and sam
pies of corn, &c. They were generally worthless;
and it was to be remarked that with regard TO corn
the specimens came not from the corn-growing
| States-none came from Ohio, Indiana, the Wa
bash, or Tennessee. The fact was that these seeds
were either purchased with the Patent Office money,
or else were gratuitousy given to the Office for the
purpose Of making a character for them. In either
case, he need not say that the whole thing was i'm
proper.
Mr.. BRIGHT was unwilling to have the simple
question Of printing embarrassed by anything con
nected with the coHstltuuonalty Of the Patent Of
flee or the circumstances in which the building had
been erected The information contained in the
"repor" was Of kind eagerly sought for by the
| agriculturists Of the country. He presumed there
nothing in it Of interest to the senators from
South Carolina or Arkansas.
| Mr. SEWER. Indeed Why notl
Mr. BRIGHT. Their pursuits are different from
thoseSpf the great masses of the county.
| Mr.. SEWER. | am farmer, sir. ! have been
farmer all my life
Mr.. BRIGHT proceeded. There might be
abuses connected with the Patent Ofiee-he did not
say there were not. But he contended that the re-
port contained very valuable information, and that
the people were eager for it, He was willing to
vote for the largest number Of copies.
| Mr.. ASHLEY reiterated former remarks as TO
| the economical Characteristic selfsustainng char
acter of the Patent Office. As to the seeds and ag
ricuural statistics Congress had appropriated
So 900 for the purpose of collecting them. Wheth-
er the seeds were good, or bad Indifferent, was
not the question, although, II bad, might be good
reason against the appropriation. He (Mr. A.
was himself farmer-a bad one perhaps. He would
not say that the senators from South Carolina and
Arkansas were also bad farmers.
| Mr.. CALHOUN. hope not
MI. ASHLEY. Why they might be very good
farmers so far growing cotton and corn went
And even regarded the single product of corn he
had doubt that the circulation OF the report of
the Commissioner of Patents had increased its
amount five per cent. all over the United States.
And so II was with the cultivation Of grasses. As
10 the increase of appropriations TO which reference
had been made, it had only been natural; and it
was to be remarked that the larger portion of the
building denominated the Patent Office, had been
appropriated by Congress to the National Insti-
| tnte Mr. A al tn tha daai
the intense eagerness-the universal avidity with
which this report WAS sought by the people-that
was a sure proof that It a valuable document
Cries of"queston, Question"
Mr.. CAMERON remarked that if the gentlemen
from South Carolina and Arkansas would go into
Pennsylvania amongst his constituents-not gentle
men farmers but men who held their own plows-
they would see the wonderful benefits and useful
influences dispensed by the Patent Office.
| Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Louisiana, would vote for
printing the largest number Of the report. 1t was
the most interesting of all documents, except Ere.
mont's report. As proof the excellence and emi
neny scientific character the reports of the Patent
Office, Mr. j. would just mention one fact. 1t
had been presented by the American minister to a
scientific association in Russia. and had actually
been received with marked appreciation.
Cries of ''queston," question"
Mr.. SEWER wished TO say that, to the Patent
Office itself, he had no objection 1t was calculated
under proper management, to be a valuable public
institution. But he contended that it had been mis-
directed-converted into bloated expensive estab-
lishment, affecting to take charge of tha,agricuture
of the country, with which il had no more to dc
than had the War Department. After some further
remarks from Mr. s., in refutation of the idea tina,
the popularity of the report any argument in
favor Of the propriety and justice Of expanding the
public money in its publication
i The question was then taken on the amendment
to the amendment, to print 5000 copies.
The PRESIDENT was under the impression that
the yeas and nays had been ordered, but was moi
certain, not then having his memorandum before
i him.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, thought they
had been ordered but, to settle the matter he would
call for them.
The call having been seconded, the yeas and nay,
were ordered and being taken, the amendment wa.
rejected.
Then the question was taken on the amendment
to print 10000 copies; and 1t was also rejected, af
Mr.. MANGUM then moved an amendment tc
print Is, 000 which motion was put, and rejected
Then the question required on the resolution
: reported from the Committee on Printing, author
zing the printing of $4,000 copes and the motor
to adopt having been put, it was agreed to.
j APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. LEWIS moved that the prior orders of tn,
day be postponed, and that the Senate take up tn,
bill to supply deficiencies in the appropriations 70
certain objects, made for the service Of the fsca
year ending 30th June, 1886; which was agreed to.
Mr. WESTCOTT stated that he felt bound t.
make his Acknowledgements to the senator from
Maine, Mr.. EVANS, and to the senator from Ala
bama, MIR. LEWIS, for their courtesy in postponins
this bill the other day in consequence Of his (Mr
WIS., absence from the Senate when it was called
up.E He was absent procuring from the Treasury
Department the necessary data to show the appro
priation asked for Just and reasonable and
came in the moment after the bill was laid aside
He had that data, and he did not doubt it woulc
satisfy the senator from Maine and all others II wal
true that there had been wastefuness and extrava
gance in the Territorial governments; and the senato
from Maine was fulfilling a duty in scrunizing APP
preparations for their expenses, and, so far from
finding fault, he (Mr. W. would yield his humble
commentator for his course. Mr.. W. said he
would not deny that Florida, while a Terri
tory, not exempt from the charges made
by that senator more than the other Terrific
ries. He freely conceded her Territorial Legislature
had been prodiga in their expenditures, and not re
stricted enough in their allowances; that they hat
l employed unnecessary officers and clerks and hat