Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-09
dom mauieate0.
For the washington sentinel.
For the Washington Sentinel.
United States seedshop.-N Necessity of Adj
ditional Watchfulness over Uncle Sans
Strong Box.

For the Washington Sentinel
United States seedshop.-N Necessity Of Adj
Strong Box.
MEssRs. EDITORS: The Congress Of the Uni
ted States have, for series of years. appropri-
ated five thousand dollars per annum to the
Patent Office, for the purpose of collecting
agricultural statistics, and for the purchase. OF
rare seeds, exotics, &C., not easily procured by
private individuals. The strict construction
lists of that body have always denied the con-
stitutional right, and have battled pertina-
ciously against the appropriation. In the
present Congress, however-at least in the
House thing asked for by the Patent
Office is granted without question; the strict
constructionists having either been left at
home or find themselves hors dc combat.
The usual appropriation for the fiscal year
ending June, 1864, having been granted,
($5,00O,) we find the present Commissioner of
Patents managed to have inserted in the def
cheney bill for that year 100000 double the
amount Of the original appropriation, as the
deficiency! Hardly month had elapsed be-
fore we find, in the general appropriation bill
for the fiscal year ending June, 1855, an APP
preparation Of $4,000 for the purchase Of
seeds, &C., passed in Committee of the Whole
in the House without dissenting voice, has
been engrossed and sent to the Senate for con-
currence. We trust there are those in that
body who will overhaul that appropriation and
examine it carefully ere it is allowed to pass
and become law. The original object of that
appropriation, as we have stated, was to obtain
rare seeds and exotics, not easily procured by
private individuals. 1t was to furnish fund
by which our navy officers, ministers, and con-
suls, in foreign countries, could be reimbursed
actual OUTLAWS in procuring rare seeds, &C., and
for the payment Of freights, &c., &c, Of such
plants, seeds, &C., &c. 1t was by these means
public spirited members of Congress hoped to
benefit the agricultural interests of the country,
and, perchance, introduce new staples into the
country. 1t never contemplated the distribu
ton of cabbage Seed radish seed, celery seed &C.,
raised within few hundred miles Of Washing
ton, and accessible to every one that could find
seed store. 1t hardly could have been the
intention of Congress to furnish their con-
stituents with garden-seed stamped with the
official ensignia of the Patent Office-to open
a seed-shop at the seat of government to dis
tribute throughout the length and breadth of
the land, water and musk-mellon seed, carrot
seed, cabbage seed, &c-else the appropriation
was sadly deficient in amount, and 100000
should have been granted. But it may be
asked-does the Patent Office furnish garden
seed gratis-postage paid, to the recipients
door, whether he live in the wilds of Oregon,
or the rich placers of California !? We answer,
undoubtedly it does, and for proof we refer TO
many members Of Congress; aye, the Commits
sioner of Patents.
The fact is, We see in embryo, the germ of a
natural seed-shop, with Uncle Sam as the
scotsman, and the 25,OO0,O00 American citi-
zens as the customers. This may seem an ex-
travagant assertion. But with the rapid strides
made by the present law of patents obtaining
five fold greater an appropriation in a single
year, what may now seem a wild fancy, may
become an undisputed fact. NINETY SIX.