The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-23

OF the lntclcsts nlNoiNcu iN'uOi" "s
consideration OF Congress.
While the fee paid for patent 10y an American ei'eh
Is but thirty dollars, the sum Of hse huhaieu aoals
exacted from British subject ana ,hiee huhuico ION
the citizens and subjects of other foreign governments
This harsh and seemingly unwse discrimination has
formed the subject of earnest remonstrance on inc
part of my predecessors but, weighty are the OBJ
ctions which have been urged against It's continuance
thew have failed to attract the favorable notice of Con
gres Ii the existing law be regarded as having been
adopted in spirit of retaliation, It's trainers totally mis-
conceived the European policy TO which IL WAS lhenueu
respond tarefui inquiry enables me TO state t't
with the exception OF Prussia is the only nation
known to distinguish, in granting patents, between e
native born and foreign inventor II Is true that the
English, French and other transatlantic governments
require the payment of patent fees apparently
and oppressive compared with those PAID here by
American citizens, but exorbitan AS THESE lees may
seem they are demanded alike OF al-natlyes and Tor
egne With those nations the patent laws measures
of and the administration of their peculiar po
tca institutions involves the outlay OF vast treasures
their revenue systems mast be upon correspondngiy 81
gantc scale With such governments such measures may
perhaps plead absolute financial necessity in their us
cation and they certainly carry with them not the slight
est approach that breach of national comfy which
legislation appears strangely intended to rebuke But
upon what principle it be maintained that the gov
eminent of the United States boastng OF the simplicity
and cheapness of its administration and of its entire dis
enhanent from the political burdens of the Old World
shall initiate this solitary feature of transatlantic taxa
ton 1t may to those who do not look beyond
made upon the foreigner is therefore national gain but
this is manestly deluson 1t is ncontestably true that
though paid by the foreigner in the first instance the
issuing of his patent he is ultimately reimbursed from
the purse the native Besides, of all taxes
it il the most odious being tax on knowledge and upon
the highest forms and noblest aims of human phian-
thropy II other governments lnsensble to the
dictates of enlarged public policy and so wanting IN
feel constrained to resort to imposts thus en-
barrassng the inventive genius of the age shall we SO
violate the convictions nsepabe from our political
faith and nature to follow in their footsteps The
people of the United States have deep interest in all
useful Inventions wherever and by whomsoever made
and their passage from land to land should be free
the winds and sunshine of Heaven
Near half century ago the government OF the Uni
ted States nangurated the principle of reciprocity in the
commercial intercourse of nations 1t invited the con-
of all other governments by offering to place
their citizens and subjects the footing with the
citizens OF this country provided like advantages were
by them extended in return With a single exception,
this principle is engrafted upon every treaty
ating our commerce with Europe, and in introducing
and brilliant epoch in history it has laid the
the root of that jealousy of strangers prevalent
among the benighted Asiatirs, and which, wherever
found is recognised lingering badge of barbarism 1t
is asked that this doctrine just in itself and OF which
Justly proud, shall be imbodied in our patent
laws Every European government, with the single
ception stated has placed American citizens footing
of perfect equality with its subjects, far as its sys
patent laws is concerned In the presence of such
a fact appealing to MS to uphold longer this obnoxious
discrimination would he to insist that the strictly local and
domestic legislation OF other nations shall be adjusted to
meet peculiar views, or, what is yet more unreason
able that the governments of those nations shall accord
citizens privileges which they deny to their
While recognising it duty to be courteous and
liberal upon the of trade where human sell
fshncss is most prone to prey the stranger
without the rossest Inconsistency refuse to be that
broader and elevated theatre of action whose themes
affect the advancement and happiness OF the race and
where every moment forced to acknowledge that
the gain of other nations is GAIN and their loss is
necessarily ours also
Regarded from the lowest point of view--its bearing
upon the finances of this ocete feature of the act of
1886, under discussion has proved failure Excluding,
it does multitudes of inventions which would other
wise be introduced no doubt Is entertained but that 1t
yields smaller amount of revenue than would the
moderate schedule of fees proposed in its stead
The colonial government of Canada treating is sup
posed, the act of 4th July, 1886 aggressive in its
spirit responded by absolutely excluding American citi
from the benefits of its patent laws In consequence
that vast country aordng of the richest harvests of
the world for the inventive genius of fellow citizens
remains closed against them The people of Canada
scions of the stock from which sprang the founders
of republic They speak the language worship
before the affairs have the forms of social and
domestic life and draw the inspirations alike of their lit
crture and of their laws from the high with
ourselves Along the borders Of eight Of the States of
confederacy, with but intervening lakes and
rivers their territory exensa colony it true in its
political aspects but empire in the greatness of the
future which is dawnng upon it, When we examine vet
closely the character and condition of that country
and realize how gigantic the public works which per-
wade it, many pusatng arteries of trade and of travel
how exhaustloss its agricultural and mineral
and the elements Of its manufacturing power and how
rapidly with every of European immigration that
breaks shores its population is increasing it is diff
cult to resist the conviction Tint have everything
gain and nothing to lose by cuvating with these,
nearest neighbors the most cordial and intimate rela
tons In 1853 the imports into Canada from the United
States amounted to Sill 1872, 45 and the imports into
the United States from Canada to SIS 1926 800 Under
the benign influences of the reciprocity treaty, which
went into operation the 18th September, 1854 the
commerce between the two countries has rapidly in
creased so that in 1885, the imports into Canada from
the United States sweled to $22 sos and the imports
into the United States from Canada to SIT s79, 1852
complete vindication OF this act of enlightened
than such result presents could not be
desired by its most earnest advocates The observance of
lofty and generous policy in intercourse with other
nations must bear such fruit this There is every
to believe that disposition felt the part of
the people of the political authorities of Canada to
continue longer the unpleasant and embarrassing rea-
tons with the United States to which their respective
systems of patent laws have given rise The bare
iuoon Of bill into the last Congress proposing repeal
Of the provision of the of 1885, under examination
WAS Mt once followed by corresponding movement
part of the Canadian government having for it's OBJ
oct removal Of the existing restrictions upon American
inventors If this movement failed of its contamination
well assured it only because the bill referred to
allied to become law. The highest considerations of
public interest to require that Congress regardless
II national punctio, shall frankly use its ut
most cndcavors to open to American inventors this
attractive and remunerative field from which by an
unhappy course of legislation, they have been so