The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-26

therefore, that an end will be put this matter that
will strike out the appropriation for continuing the prep
araon and publication OF the works OF the exploring
pedion and that shall incorporate into this bill
provision declaring that all laws authorizing the prepa
ration OF works upon the exploring expedition be repeal
ed shall propose such amendment, II we are able
10 strike out the appropriation now proposed 10 De IN
serted. Understandable il am wrong the honorable
chairman OF the Committee the Library can correct
me-ihat Commodore Wilkes has copyright oil these
works that while we publish them, he has copyright
Mr.. PEARCE. Does the gentleman desire an answer
nowi
Mr.. BRADBURY. Yes, sir.
Mr. PEARCE, would reply that this work, was
first put under contract by the Committee on the Library
when was not member OF il. The agreement was then
nittee on the Library with Captain Wilkes. by which
captain Wilkes 10 write narrative Of the expedition.
wluSat receiving any pay Tor II and was 70 write i out
during office hours the preparation Of the charts OF
the expedition, Of which some two or three hundred have
already been published with great advantage being very
where they have been sold Mr.. Wilkes, believe, did
write the narrative out OF office hours, he alleges In
consideration OF that he was allowed after the govern
ent had got the quantity and number Of the work which
they were 70 receive, TO have copyright for the mar
ratye But there is not copyright for any OF the other
are as free to all the publishers in this country as any
thing else which has been published II is the
raive only which has been copyrighted and that was
II.
tain Wilkes. under the circumstances which | have
stated
Mr.. BRADBURY It would seem that in regard to the
while Congress made the publication and the other OFF,
GERS who accompanied the expedition wee believe, re-
qured to turn over their journals TO enable the com
mander to prepare the work for which he had the copy
right II would seem, then, that there could be no par
cuar claim for damages, and that might well ter
inmate the publication OF the work now as at any other
lime. fa s,I#. s&sE M
Mr. PEARCE The narrative has been completed.
Mr.. BRADBURY. 1t is obvious that so long ago as
s45 Congress led to believe that the whole subject
had terminated and suppose that the legitimate OBJ
jects OF the law OF 1s42 were accomplished al that time,
and that no further legislation necessary 1t time
that we should stop this abuse; for it really has the ap-
pearance to the language OF the honorable senator
from Pennsy lvania OF being book making job hope,
therefore. that we will retain the amendment as it Las
been reported by the Committee on Finance. with the
exception of the item as TO the exploring expedition.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair will put the question
each proposition separately The first question will
be on the proposition OF The committee to strike out these
two Items
!" For purchase of books for said library, $4,000"
The motion 10 strike out was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT. The next question will be on in
seng the following item, reported by the committee:
"To deray freight and other expenses incurred under
tho act 70 regulate the exchange Of ce5sn and
sheT sod approved Jans SS sas the sum Of
The amendment was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT. The next amendment reported by
the committee is TO insert the following:
"For purchase of said library and for conn-
thereof and for the purchase OF furniture TOR
the same, S40, ,O00."
The senator from Maryland proposes to amend this
amendment! BY striking out "4o" and inserting "75."
Maryland is 10 einsiale the amour, Of the bill originally
The amendment 10 the amendment was agreed to-
ayes ao noes IL; and the amendment as amended was
'f1sss Tho ssson now arises
that branch relating to the exploring expedition:
For containing the preparation and Pubo.tlon of the
works Of the exploring expedition including the expenses
the erection OF said green house, S3 ,000"
Mr.. SHIELDS. Mr. President as understand the
honorable senator from Maryland this appropriation is to
execute contract which entered into ia pursuance
OF law. cannot for my life, in what way can
rid ourselves OF that obligation. | mention this matter
for the benefit of my honorable friends from Pennsyva
contracts have been entered into in OF law and
il requires this amount TO execute them lf am mis-
taken wish to be corrected.
Mr.. PEARCE | would say this-ihat a number Of
contracts have been entered into in pursuance OF law
but there two OF the works which are
publishing for which the persons employed receive sal
ary do not know that these properly be called
tracts The major part OF the works, however, under
contract .
Mr.. SHIELDS. Il amounts pretty much TO the same
thing The view take OF the matter is ths-and II
goes 10 propositions which have been made here
within few days-that IN entering into great enter
prise OF this kind we ought TO calculate 10 some measure
before the other day for the survey and reconnaissance
of all the Northern ocean. We never calculate
the vast expense that must attend such enterprise |
am unable and incapable OF estimating the value to the
country OF this enterprise but can say ihsthat there
has come 10 from scientific journals in this country,
and in other countries, account OF this expedition,
which has rated II above any expedition OF the kind
that has gone forth from any country. l under.
stand IL has brought forward amount OF natural
science has ELECTED information natural history such
no expedition OF the kind has heretofore done.
Such is my understanding OF the matler-such is the
manner in which the scientific men OF other countries
regard this expedition.
Why, it is most extraordinary idea 10 suppose that
nine years is long while be employed in pre-
pairing works OF this kind because we know that II
takes long life for such men Humboldt and Audi.
bon TO attain perfection in such sciences. II takes
long lifetime in other countries TO work out branch
OF sciences of this character Therefore. the time
ployed should not be deemed extraordinary.
do not want to 60 into this matter further. have
been asonshed when have heard the accounts Of the
immense sums which expended by other governments
IN the pursuit OF works OF this kind compared with what
IS expended by own. hold now, that having gone
into this work. the idea that abandon it this
stage Is certainly very singular one cannot under-
stand IT, When the books almost prepared and ready
Tor publication, why should abandon the matteri
Mr.. B0RLAND. Mr. President, great deal has been
said about the value OF the materials collected and the
amount OF information which has been colaied and dis
tnbuted as the result OF this expedition. But sir after
all It u but expression OF opinion. The senator
from Illinois [Mr SHIELDsl admits that he is in the same
situation with myself, to extent at least in this
specnot being altogether competent to form opinion
upon this subject, even il TO sit down and ex-
anime It. confess that would be my condition and as
the senator from Maryland [Mr PEARcr1 has suggested
there are very few OF who would be competent to
Judge Of the merits Of this work But, sir. that TO