New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-07


ledped themselves . part of the United S'ates.
II is simply confscati"D, so far as tho Co"trde-
rates are concerned. Of al patents now in force
issued 10 Northern inventors, aud denial Oi
any patent to Northern inventors, while they
continue allep enemie. Of the Montgomery coz
spiraton.
There is one other feature Of the Montgomery
Patent law which requires notice, and that 10
the s'n-what extraordinary prosi-iou for the
patcnung of in' 'eutlons by negroes. This strikes
us as an anomaly. Ii encourages negroes to
exercise their farulties. This might be ~e
enough for slave negroes, as this exercise would
cnure to the benefit Of their masters; but il is
contra t" all the Southern theories To lesslut.
with the view of assisting free nrgroes to evade
the " historic law" Of their race. The Cont ri
Kings Behch at one tine found it very difficult
to understand how even white man could en.
title himself tO property in ideas Ii iss
marvellous proof OF the progress Of civilization
that Montgomery Congress should venture to
recognize q property iu tue " idrns' Of a negro
Nj only is the negro a mercbanablr article bm.
self, but bis ideas are made merchnutable. THIS
precision was probably adopted for the enc"ur.
agemrnt Of the rutrut-O -O0ic~; for, if the urgroes
III the Confederate st do not take q hand in
the eork Of inventing and discovering, We fear
that the Dew Commissioner vii have very little
to do in tho way OF issuing his lriers.
We cannot take leave Of the Patent arrange
mebts Of toe conspiralors, without paying our
respects to the gentleman who has this bureau of
their Goverumrnt in his charge. Dir. Rhett o.
South Carolina has been made Commissioner Of
Patents, aud will have the privilege Of nfiixing
hs hand aud seal to oil the letters, whether
issued to white men or black. This is n highly
honorable office and quite sufficient to cngrOss
und tax all the ability of Mr.. Rhett, but it seems
to US miserable pny for such u hoary headed
traitor. Ten years ago, Mr. Rtett biasteJ in IA
public meeting at Charleston. that he had been
engaged for twenty-five years in tne cause OF
Dsunlon. This would carry him back To about
1876 aud enable him to antedate Notification.
lie may claim to bo tho original South Carolina
traitors claim that should give m o clear
title tO the highest seat in the Mont
gomery synagogue. Now, for a traitor oi
'hutl'u'O .ci'o W w P"'NP''"N I"
ucrr uroph,to like Stephens-~bOse treason had
hardly broken its esg-and be iobb.d of with
Commlssionershp of Patents, while the junior
r,lel is made Vic,-Presideut Of the U.urpaton,
ID un indguity which might we'll enough disgust
The Chart,ston Mercury iull as much as the 10.
ltiute policy Of the neS Government in regard
to the slsve-trade. But there Sas pro'nbly II
special reason for cOnferrihg this appointment
Oh Mr Rhrtt. IL is Welt remembered that be-
has habkering after the aesh.po When he
Wus stirring up bis South Carolina friends IN
1851 Que great lnducement that be held out to
them To tdrn traitors was the opportunity th-,
would thus enjoy to make money by becorLing
smuygl.u Worthy old Senator Butler, wLo
was a gentleman IN spite of his iouduess for
the peculiar Institution, rebuked Rhct in No
measured ter US for making such base sug
ge,tion u, the Chiyary; but the fame Of the
suggestion has adhered to the maker Of 1t, aud.
III looking about for o suitable person to intro
duce lltIo prvatecriDs GU dry land. the Mont
gomery conspIrators very naturally selected
msu who could find congenial euPIry yuent ia the
vocation Of smugIler.