Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-18

dear Since that discovery, of which country hAS
moro amply proted than England the great InzsS
Of readers have ample security that any book adapt
ed to their taste will be afforded to them on modeTats
terms.
Without doubt as our booksellers must then pay both
English and American authors for their works. the prIcx
would be somewhat raised, but only to very small ex
English authors of works written for the multitude
would onearn, through their American publishers, tf
they would gain BY selling their books at low prfoe
than high one and for such works Insignificant adaa
ton the price would afford remuneration Thus
edition of fifty thousand copies of work OF hcton
Thackeray Dickens Buwer, which is not greater than
could be so considering herpopuarty and that we ara
nation readers would give five hundred dollars to me
author for every added to the cost OF the volume
which is two thousand FIVE hundred dollars for five cents
FIVE thousand dollars for ten cents Should ne attempt
exact than would be thought fair mpensanons
besides the mnuton Of sale from the increase OF price,
he would naturally excite the resentment OF the public
which would affect the sale Of his book just the SANS
feeling affected the sale of Dckenss Chuzzewt in hix
country That work, believed to exhibit his meannsss
and ingratude towards the United States had not per-
hops of the sale circulation its predecessors
had with Besides every author is Iatnraly de-
siraus well gain he viii be desirou OF gyng
s = os sea 's That Sa & ss
Of bbks which il read opiy b. the cTs Intelligent peF
tion Of the community may expieacs greater rise "
price but with these the prncples khse mention
cd will have their influence moderate the price
must be recoected that International copyr1gm
would enlarge the field Of competition in both countries
and the rate of profit would gradually diminish with th
ers Of English books would be heavily taxed for
copyright is inconsistent with the laws of trade and the
dominant influence of self-interest.
But it is also attempted to alarm the fears of oil the
trades people concerned in bookmaking, that their
pioyments would be inarously affected The first objee
ton had foundation in truth and its consisted
only in exaggeraon; but this last to be utterly
unf,unded 1t must be remembered that the English
books released from the charge of copyright and which
constitute much the largest portion win be unaffected by
this measure and if able reprint them to nd
ntarp nj W
then As to works subject to copyright, the number
Of those written in England and reprinted here will Pro-
badly be much the at present, and the number
of American works will be greatly increased. Besides.
international copyright would open new field 10
the writers of the United States and enlarged to
those of England it may be fairly presumed that the
number OF original works will be greatly augmented and
should this give correspondent spring to the amount OK
reading and the demand for books is not improha
ble then the handcraft employed in bookmaking would
receive accession of employment well the writing
class But neither the probable gain loss sufficient
to merit q serious not!ce.
1t seems too that very sensitive political jealousy
has been addressed this OCCASION and has been said
that the subject Of international copyright properly
belongs to the Legislature and not to the Executive and
should be adjusted if at ALL by law and not by treaty
1t have occurred to the obector that thiz
subject falls under class of for which the treaty
making power expressly provided. Legislation pre-
scrbes rules Of action for citizens but when il
proposed also prescribe reciprocal rules for the e
of other countries always done by treaty This
the only practicable mode by which two nations enter
into mutual stpulaons principles of fairness and
cprocity An arrangement which may be made by treaty
in few months and be satisfactory to both partieS
might employ two Legislatures for years. and then fail
Thus while willing TO extend the law Of copy
right English writers, claimed reciprocal benefit
for and the only in which the arrangement
could be made fAir and equal terms by treaty
Surprising the to be equal that mode and that
alone could settle the time the treaty should last tho
period within which the foreign writer should avail him
self of his privilege lose it. with other provisions
which wise and cautious policy might dictate.
! Perhaps however, it will be said that the Legislature
should at least have given its previous sanction But
when the most important questions of commerce and
vigaton, the ustment of boundaries settling the tc
to millions Of and the purchase of territories
for millions of dollars have been effected by the reaty
making power without any previous legislation, shall
be afraid TO trust the present Chief Magistrate and
Senate question of such comparative nsgnfcanee
the book trade! 1t is that when this subject
first agitated the great body Of American writers
willing to extend the benefit of copyright English
thors without any recprocation, that would
the main grievance of being underbi in the American
market by the reprints of those authors and they
cordngy petitoned Congress to pass law the sub
ect 1887 in which united with the Professors of The
University Of Virginia; but it was afterwards properly
considered that the benefits should be mutual and this
object could be effected only by treaty
know not have any personal interest in this ques
ton but doubling that materially affects the
of the United States for honesty well for
liberal policy, have yentured to trouble you with my
sentiments on it, r....
am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 9, 1854. r
Although we have long since been impressed
with the opinion that moral justice as well as tho
claims of national comfy in favor of an inter
national copyright privilege, yet we have never
taken any part in the discussions which have from
time to time, arisen the subject. But, in placing
the above communication in our columns, we deem
it proper to express concurrence in its views,
and to add that the writer is not only statesman
and political economist of ripe experience and ern
nence, but that he occupies himself a proninens
place in the front rank of American authors. We
should give to the opinions of no in the country
more weight on this subject than to his.-EDrToRsI
VALUABLE WoRK.--Messrs. Lippncott, Grambo & Co..
of Philadelphia have just published statistical work OF
great value, especially book Of reference. Il is
and complete Gazetteer Of the United States giving
full and comprehensive review of the present Conds
Industry and Resowce Of the American Confederacy; ME-
der which heads the volume thick of near $50
pages small type comprises great variety and amouns
of information. The work is compiled and edited by
THOMAS BALDWIN Esq. and J. THOMAS NJ. D. For sale
at Taylor Maurys.
A DEMOCRATIC PAPER Is NEBRAsKA-We acknowledge
the recent of the first numbers of Democratic paper