Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28


him to make his experiments yet had no idea ct ihst tms
that piece OF machinery, worked the committee roomb
was to be worked the entire continent and to enable
to converse with each other distance Of thousands Of miles
Congress gave the $50 e00 and the result is known. We
ask Tor $40 900 make trial Of this great power ON
scale commensurate to the business purposes Of life,
merce, and to war
Mr.. CASS. This subject was up not merely ia con-
nexion with this point generally some wear or two aeo
and then entertained Intention which regret did not
follow up, call the Executive Government for stat
men Of the sums expended in aborive experiments be-
lieve il would be found to fearful sum- am
utterly opposed to the policy though ready 10 acknow
ledge the value Of the experiment trust it will prove
successful but believe the Government should be the last
agent TO interfere with these matters and they should be
left to individual enterprise If NEEDLE in this case
why not every other by which and arts are to
be promoted is Of the functions Of Govern
ment II the idea shall be carried into effect let be patent
ed and we desire to avail ourselves of it, pay for
It, others would Let il be left to individual enterprise
where il may be most safely left.
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi doubt very much the pro-
pretty and indeed the power make such appropriation
doubted i6 propriety when the first appropriation was
made will be that the increase Of the appropriation
asked for quite rapid the increase ohe power described
by the Senator from Missouri Twenty thousand dollars
frst given fer expermen and S4O 900 s asked to
carry them out and the session. perhaps $50 900 will
be asked apply them Where Congress get the power
to make this appropriation for that the question should
ask the exercise Of Legislative any
subject It surely not in the constitution, and know no
other source Of TO which Congress apply The
constitution gives Congress power promote progress
OF science and useful arts, by securing for limited times
authors and inventors the exclusive right their respective
writings and discoveries" That was the whole grant Of the
constitution. To carry out that grant we established pa
tent Office and grant patents and copyrights and the eIc
sve right TO books and discoveries But SIR the proposition
OF the Senator from Missouri make this Government not
the guardian the rights Of authors and discoveries but the
patron Of arts and inventions We the hazard Of
the utility OF supposon of some inventor and appropriate
the money without the possibility Of deriving that benefit from
Il which every capitalist requires 10 his Indeed L
see no limit The Senator from Missouri very graphically de-
scribed the thirsty craving Of the sand that going
drink up the water drawn from the the Ohio
but the thirst Of the sand would be quenched when kept CO.
yeed with water and they would demand further drink
but how and in what mode suppress the constant
uprising OF Inventors to demand appropriations from Con-
gress may come TO that specializing men, cheua-
IerS de indusie, will seek it mode Of drawing money
from the treasury, without any expectation that their expert
mens would succeed. Are sit here body Of
miners to ascertain the merits and decide upon proba
by Of each proposition submitted and determine whether
we shall advance money upon not Surely this would
be dverting from legitimate and surely, too
the whole matter is in direct violation Of the constitutional
provision But as to the question Of merit, deny nothing
to Professor Page for invention discovery which sup
pose he may claim but must be recoleced that this
vention was familiar to the country years ago. when
obscure blacksmith, think, from Vermont exhibited little
model machine in the various cities in the northeastern part
the United States As long the winter Of
worked BY this very mode Of applying power
But sir there is another idea and the public press, in
tor to 1t. young man, known few years ago very
favoraby artist and painter Of portraits and historical
pieces has for years been experimenting upon this SUBJ
Ject de has made an engine in Baltimore and, if we
may credit the statements in regard it he has obtained
higher power than has Professor Page Poor and endless
ne yet struggled alone and against Professor Page with an
appropriation Of 100000 from the Government aid him.
Some time ago be filed his capat in the Patent Office for his
invention and since then he has been perfectng it, with
view to obtain patent Now, he has least the right
ask from Congress hands off, and that in this fair srug
gle between rival genius he may aowe poor and with
aid 70 the with Professor Page TO the final
goal Of patent If CONGRESS-, however, shall decide 70
make this appropriation, claim that be shall be put
equaliy but make such claim now, for opposed
the whole principle Of voting money for any species Of expe
mens and particularly at this time when we see that the
first abuse leads such results
Mr.. BENTON. wish to say but word. Professor
Page In the year 1889, got about far believe, any
other expermene He has abandoned the
he in which, apprehend be has gone further than any
has gone and is which makes the results of what
be doing far beyond in value any thing that could be
derived in value from the old principle The old way de-
scbed in Professor Simans journal for 1885, But without
going into that NATTER may Professor Page had long
had this thing before Congresong enough have enabled
every member and the whole public to have judged of for
themselves Before the appropriation asked at the last
session. ne exhibited his engine in this city to every body
committee of Congress appointed 60 and il,
and upon the report of that committee $40, 900 appo
praed. Since that time he has carried his experiments
under the supervision Of the Secretary Of the Navy that
every thing he has been doing since that time has been sub
ected to the eye Of authority and that authority officer of
the Government Besides that he has all occasions spb-
mitted his experiments the examination Of every member
Of Congress who might choose go and look at them He
has therefore brought forward his invention in way claim
the highest sanction that could be claimed for it. With
sPect to future appropriations the amendment itself distinct
and specific What asked is try the experiment
upon scale with Of the great purposes
Of le The S40 600 to prepare vessel and apply that
power to it. and it. if be run, to decide the
question And think the magnitude Of the object requires
that should be placed beyond doubt way the other
Mr.. DICKINSON rise to state fact and to ask
this question have just received letter from
of my constituents in New York, whose character is well
vouched for asking endeavor to get appropriation
for him for experiments valuable invention and discovery
he has made in regard engines. He cites the fact
that Professor Page received appropriation of $4,000
last year. precedent for the appropriation which he asks
to be made to himself
Mr. FOOTE. After what my colleague has said, deem
unnecessary go deliberately into this subject certainly
with him in every thing he has said both regards
the mpocy Of this appropriation, and the merits Of of
constituents, Of whom he has spoken favoraby
say, also, that although voted for the former appro
praion for this purpose have been dissatisfied with myself
since for think II the wasteful expenditure
OF public money in small way this Government has ever
pracised within my recollection and repetition Of the act
would be marked with exceeding folly and indiscreon
therefore vote for this amendment heard Professor
Page lecture twice. and do wish call in question his
ability and capacity lecturer, Of science, or as
gentleman heard him when he ectured in the hearing of
the committee and heard him only few weeks ago. and
NV he much better infory,aJ an