The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-08

pursue their policy and peperate their acts OF nsrue In
the name and under The of the President ltremans
for the American people to say il such dangerous fea
ture sh,ll be adopted into the political system Of this
country
The Patent Omee-To be converted Into Political
Bureau.
Hitherto this important bureau OF the government has
been considered disconnected in It's operations IRON
partisan politics. and set apart to the uses and purposes
of science and invention Hence prescription has never
been pracsed in that office, and removals have been
made only for good But under the admnlstra-
ton of the INSCRIPTIONS Secretary OF the INTERIOR whose
abilities as statesman not to extend beyond the
small business of removing democrats from office and
putting wings in their places new order OF things has
been introduced into that office. Prescription has be-
come the order OF the day. and the office is to be per-
vered into political machine whose influence Is de.
signed to affect the politics and elections of the country
We do not of course, refer TO the removal of the late
head of that office, for do not deem that circumstance
of any Importance, except to illustrate the principle upon
which the party in power proceeds in making its alleged
reforms Certainly the late Commissioner had favors
to ask of General Taylor, Of his cabinet did he
deprecae their power their vengeance He cared for
neither But it is matter to be regretted that the Patent,
Office should be made the theatre of prescription and
turned into political engine. 1t is to be regretted
that the subordinates should be struck down by the
axe of the political butcher who unfortunately for
the country and for General Taylors administration,
as the sequel will show, al the head OF the department
to which the Patent Office is now attached But such,
we learn, is the fact
We understand that Henry H. Sylvester, esq., the late
L r Il e a.. A. l..
removed This removal wholly without justification
upon any rule which General Taylor has laid down in
relation to removals He was capable faithful, and had
moi nterfered with politics. But his place wanted
as reward for free soil gentleman who was cand
date for Congress in Michigan in the district in which
wing has been elected, and who withdrew for the benefit
of the whig candidate
We do not however, regard this as the worst feature
in the operations of Mr. Ewing in the Patent Office: it
u.s. the degradatoa of the Rev. E. Goodrich Smith from
the desk of agricultural clerk and librarian, and the ap
pontment to the desk OF of John S. Skinner,
editor of 1.-THE Plough the Loom, and the Anvil" Mr..
Smith most able and excellent man and officer He pos
talents of high ORDER and attanments such few
can boast Of He is thoroughly acquainted not only with
the ancient languages but also with the most important
modern languages of Europe and no exceed him
in capacity for perseverng and interchangeable labor For
eight years past he has been employed under the super
vision OF the Commissioner upon the agricultural reports
of the oice--a work which requires constant labor and
the untiring industry. His tastes and his extensive
and varied requirements eminently fitted him for that
difficult and responsible service No labored harder,
or served his country in useful capacity faith
fully. And, besides he was whig-not brawlng
partisan, but wing from honest conviction and high
and manly principle-a wing TO be respected Yet he
has Seen compelled to yield up his place TO of the
editor of "The Plough the Loom, and the Anvil and put
upon the humble grade of copying clerk, at the
rate Of ten cents per 100 words.
We cannot imagine why this great injustice has been
done TO Mr. Smith, except TO pave the way for the intro
ducoh of political matter into the Patent Office report is
evidently the design of the Secretary of the Interior to have
the absurd theories of "The Plough the Loom and the
Anvil upon the subject OF protection, propagaed through
that important document and hence the degradation of
Mr.. Smith and the appointment of the son OF the editor
of that journal But, if such be the policy of the Sec
rotary, we are confident that both Congress and the peo
pie will insist that end be put to the scheme Hereto
fore the Patent Office report has been used
vehicle to propagate political theories, political opn
ions of any kind 1t has been devoted wholly to science
and agriculture
But regret to say that neither Mr. Ewing nor the
new Commissioner TO comprehend precisely the
principle upon which the Patent Office is now constu
ted. That principle is one of Independent action And
hence the whole power of granting patents, and the
entire control the patent fund for the use of the
Office vested in the Commissioner and no, in the
Secretary OF the department to which is attached The
Secretary has not the legal power to make an appoint.
ment nor removal in that Office He can only approve
of the nominations of the Commissioner Nor can he
control one cent of its funds Yet would seem tn
MIR Ewing has usurped power over both He has done
1t either through ignorance design and we suspect the
former. although his wishes may have prompted the err
Ior which he has committed We are OF the opinion