The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08

he retained in his own hand the whole subject OF the re-
port. and prepared part second with little skill and
judgment as part rst, then must assert II 10 be most
manifest that the whole report is utterly worthless 1
care but Little whether this is the production OF the clerk
or OF the Commissioner. But who is prepared TO say
that part second, proposed 10 be printed al the pub
lie expense really deserving OF such an honorl The
hold in my hand has Just been supplied
to by friend, who, it would seem, had enjoyed the
advantage OF looking into this second part OF the report
He states what is the opinion OF all the prac
teal men with whom have conyersed upon this subject
will read the facts which il contains. II is speculative
and full OF blunders Il contains learned ealses, with
plates, mushrooms and fungi, very curious history
OF the humble bee, and map OF statistics from the news
papers OF the country II will cost 81 so copy 10 print
IT, The 10000 copies ordered By the House will cos,
$3.50 the 900 copies ordered BY the Senate
making in all $4,000. The writer OF this memoan-
dun also says, have examined the book and believe
it 70 be mass OF trash the substance oil It has been
No doubt that such is the genuine character OF the
ond part OF the report OF the Commissioner OF Patents
lei me De allowed to warn my good friends who APP
pear TO be so anxious 10 dse the whole contents OF this
report to the uermost parts OF the republic that they
will yet nd do not conjecture enormously, that
there much matter IN the second part oil il which they
beg them be assured that some trick some abolition
or high tariff device, will yet be detected in this report
which will cause them to lament that they ever voted 10
appropriate cent Tor its publication.
Mr.. MASON. Mr. President the greatest man Vir-
gina every sent to the national government the great
John Randolph declared, some twenty years ago. that
things in the federal government that the day would
speedily arrive when TO refer to the constitution OF the
United States as reason why power should not be
exercised, would be treated a breach OF order do
not know, sir. whether that day has yet arrived but
fear that objection being taken TO the exercise OF this
power by the absence OF constitutional rghtf he who
will have very little weight Now, sir submit to the
Senate what right have we either 10 authorize the COM
piladn Of this book or sanction II after has been COM
piled Sir, have referred TO the constitution the
fence very short and beg leave read il TO the Sen.
ate This book eInanates from the Patent Office depart
ment BY what authority do we create this Patent OF.
flee department. By authority OF the constitution In IFS
text The text reads as follows Congress shall have
power promote the progress OF science and the useful
arts" How "By securing for limited time to au-
writings and discoveries The right il given in the
most strictly crcumscrbed manner, and that is by Sc
curing authors and inventors their respective rights
their discoveries. Now. what is proposed What has
been done and again, to promote. is said,
the progress OF science and the useful arts by sanconng
usurped authority upon the part OF this Patent Office in
these compilations OF Heaven knows what-or should
have rather said. that nobody knows wha-cerainly,
nobody here-and then to duse by an appropriation
of public money!
Sir, gentlemen have said that il is time to stop this
abuse, and 60 into reform. say il is not reform
whatever understand the reform 10 be an exami-
nation and restriction in the abuse OF the power that is
granted II is no reform TO refuse TO exercise power
that is not only not granted, but is strictly prohibited BY
the grant referred TO- do not wish to deain The Senate
| do moi know whether the yeas and nays have been
called Tor. Ii not, ! ask for them.
Mr.. fURNEY. MI President, Intend to vote agains,
the proposition OF the senator from Mississippi, Mr..
DAVIS, and for the report OF the committee, and de
sire TO submit my reasons that may not be misunder
stood by the senator from Mississippi, [Mr FooTE,] in
relation 10 this Commissioner of Patents Mr. Greeley
anybody else understand, sir that this document
consists OF the information received by the Patent Office
in the inquiries OF the clerk who assigned
discharge that duty He has these circulars through
out the United States, and received information from va
rons portions of the United States 1t has been received
from the most intelligent sources, and according to the
ordinary mode as pracised for years past And il he
ought 10 be removed because he has
placed the performance of that duty in the hands of
Commissioner, and would have been ample jusfca-
ton 10 the present administration for the removal OF Mr.
Burke, the late Commissioner OF Patents.
Mr. FO0TE, (nterposng) II my friend will allow
me, know that the senator from Tennessee must have
endeavored very carefully to say,
that If he had failed to exercise experimenting dis
crelon upon this part of the workf he had confded il
exclusively TO OF his clerks without exercising him.
self experimenting vigilance over the labors OF such
clerk-he had mos, shamefuy failed TO perform his du
ties, and ought to be expelled from the official station
which he holds that account; because II is his duty
either TO execute the functions alluded to HIMSELF TO
that they are faithfully performed by some subord
nate. IL II can be shown that the former Commissioner
OF Patents committed this portion OF the report exclusively
to clerk, and did not employ with regard 10 that dis
eliminating judgment for which be is so remarkable am
free declare that there sufficient for his eec
ton from Office though, heretofore have been disposed
regard this OF the most censurable instances OF
prescription that have occurred under the present admins
tTation.
Mr. TURNKEY do not know how much discretion
he may have exercised but presume, sir he had but
very little TO do with the report because from the nature
oil his occupations he Is drawn to other matters and has
no time 10 look over or 10 examine the great oil nor
nation returned TO the circulars Sent out The
duties OF the Commissioner OF Patents He
has much he attend TO, 10 discharge all the
duties properly and legltmatey belonging TO his Office
connected with the issue OF patents and the applications
for patents, without devoting large portion OF il 10 the
collection Of agricultural statistics take IT, therefore,
that he conhded TO clerk, and had little 10 do with IL
himself. And my own judgment would be that this
clerk would be more competent and better Judge in
relation to agricultural matters than the present Commits.
soner OF Patents; and would soon confde in the
IN the late Commissioner OF Patents, or in the present
one, upon agricultural subjects cannot. therefore,
gard any objection 10 this document that il not
prepared By the Commissioner o Patents himself II IL
Is wrong print this document, il wrong TO print
last year. La relation 10 the first part which printed
was then opposed TO the printing OF that document, and
made a speech against II. wished ] could have had
upon that occasion the assistance OF my friend from
Mississippi ] stood then solitary and alone.
Mr. FOOTE, lin his seat) was not present
Mr. TURNKEY | think the senator was present
then stood solitary and alone. had no help no assist.
ance and being solitary and alone withdrew my objec
ton opposed the printing OF the first part believed
tea u would be useless. was in favor Of printing
ly The usual number OF snch documents But this por
ton OF the report is wholly disconnected with the Com
missioner oil Patents and consists OF information which
important and valuable TO the entire Union. shall
therefore vote for the printing OF IT, II is just such
document had at the last session OF Congress, only
not large.
Mr. F0OTE. simply rise to state 10 my honorable
friend from Tennessee mir TuRNEy thai II was nres-