Saturday, July 8.
Laws in the German Language.
Mr. Holmes said that he thought it necessary, in order to enforce a general compliance with the laws of the United States, that they should be printed in the German language, as well as in the English, since there were very many inhabitants in this country who could read no other. He therefore proposed a resolution to the following effect:
"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, That a number of copies of the laws of this session, not exceeding eight thousand copies, shall be printed in the German language, and distributed by the Secretary of State amongst the Executives of the several States, for the information of the German inhabitants of each State respectively."
Mr. Lyon thought it would be proper to pass a resolution of this kind. He did not know what number might be necessary. He also thought that some measures should be taken for a general publication of their laws in the English language; at present, it was merely by chance if the people in his district came to a knowledge of them. He thought all laws of general import should be inserted in every newspaper throughout the Union.
Mr. Coit said if they were to promulge their laws in the German language, it would be necessary that they should all become critically acquainted with it, for if they were to authorize any translation, great mischiefs might arise from its not being correct.
Mr. Gallatin said that the weight of the objection urged by the gentleman last up, had always been thought sufficient in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in which State there was a greater proportion of Germans than in any other. There was also another objection to the measure. If it were to be passed, it must be accompanied with an appropriation law, which the advanced state of the session would not admit.
The resolution was put and negatived.