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

We never employ the press with greater satsfac-
tion-except in developing some great political truth
or in supporting some great principle in which the
interests OF the whole community involved-than
in noticing some remarkable monument Of American
ingenuity. The glory Of our country is concerned
in it. We all sympathize las we stated on Wednes-
day EVENING" in what concerns and elevates the
American character. Every great invention-every
striking development Of American mind-everything
that rebounds to the honor of the United States
adds to the value OF that holy union which we should
cherish as one Of our most precious blessings "The
kindred blood las Mr.. Madison writes in the l4th
number of The FederalistO which flows in the
veins of American citizens, the mingled blood which
they have shed in defence Of their sacred rights
,ecra,e their union, and excite horror the idea o.
their becoming aliens, rivals, enemies" In fact,
everything Of high moral and intellectual charac-
ter-every noble achievement-every striking inyen
tion-every splendid exercise Of ingenuity or o.
| improvement-makes us prouder Of our country,
and constitutes new ligament TO bind the States
md the people more firmly together. We cherish
what we value. We become attached to whatever
promotes our happiness or eevates our generous
pride. IL IL enough lOr US 10 hHoW "at u 10 O."
American art, an American producuon-that 1t en-
bellishes the American union-to attach US more to
| our country, without weakening at the same time
the proper respect, the kindly good will that we
owe to the rest Of the world.
| But it is not to our Union alone that il adds q
new charm, and greater value. We consider it q
new tribute to the great even Of Liberty
herself Monarchists talk of royal courts being the
true friends of the arts and sciences. We hold thai
! a free government is far more favorable to the de-
yelopment of the moral and intellectual faculties
| We point to the Grecan republics of old tn.
truest illustration of this holy influence. No coun
try in the ancient world produced such distin-
gushed painters, sculptors, poets, authors and ora
tors. 1t is, in fact, the influence of liberty which
opens, and enarges, and strengthens the mind. Lei
| a man dare to think for himself strip him at once
of all blind obedience to antiquated institutions, to
all servile limitations, and give him the advantage
too, of that enterprising spirit which new and
aourshing country like our own is calculated to in
spire, and there is no limit you can set, in the
course of time, to the novelty and boldness Of hi
conceptions. The time is coming when the refined
wants Of new society are supplied-when thu
greatest poets are destined to appear in America.
Independently, therefore, of the direct advantages
which every new invention brings along with it, WI
are proud to hail every proof Of American ingenuity
as new moral tribute to Union, and to Lib
erty herself. We shall continue to record them Al
long as we WELD the pen the press. They ar
not confined to any particular section Of our coun
try. They spring in great profuson among on
northern brethren; and have the pleasure of aga
calling the attention of our readers this evening
other instance Of their inventive genius. They ma,
I recolect the brief notice which we took few even
ings since Of the small busts that in tile
e gressiona library. The worthy librarian, Mr.. Nee
e han, was kind enough to point them out to u.s. ant
; our curiosity at once excited. We were struck
with the novelty Of the invention; and we we're de
termined to obtain further information about it.
t length. a gentleman Of Boston was polite enoug
} to place in our hands the following descriF
3 lion from the "Barnstable Extraordinarily Pa
triotn We publish it with pleasure, remarlsing at tn
$ same time that we have not yet seen the machn,
, and can give no description oft There is one pa,
i sage of the article, however, which IL rather oosel
> expressed. Mr.. Blanchsrd's machine does M
= promise to dispense almost entirely, with the dee
thought, and classic study, and indefatgable labor
the artist in his efforts to put life and poetry int
the marble" These qualities are necessary to the SUI
cessful development of the copying machine itself
q for the copy presupposes an original The origin
II bust could not exist withou, the deep thought an
splendid genius which were to call it out first fro'
!, the marble II is true that every piece Of marble
y the world large or small, contains the outlines
a every head in the world but trequres the scul
!. tor, genius to bring il out When the work is a
J. eompshed and not before, then the mechanical u
Y vention Of Mr. Blanchard steps in to multiply ii
he copies. In efec,ing that object the invent
.. doe, his psrt--jus, as the sngrsver assists u