A KKViKW. 85 



noticed as a part of the proceeding's of Conc^rcss, Ijy the press through- 

 out the United States, a)id every body tints notified of your i7pplieation. 



From that period to the present time, I do not think there has been 

 a single Congress at which all jjroper efforts were not made to obtain 

 the action of that Body. Members were not annoyed with indecent 

 importunity; nor were any powerful combinations of interested indi 

 viduals resorted to, \.o force your Claim upon the consideration of Con- 

 gress. This was not in accordance w ith }our taste, or your means. I 

 well remember, howexer, that you frequently visited this City on that 

 business; and that at almost every session, you either brought or sent 

 to me, to be laid before Congress, some new evidence of the triumph 

 of your great invention. — These document.s were faithfully laid before 

 that body, or sent to the senators from Maryland for that purpose. 

 On one occasion, as your agent, I addressed a somewhat extended 

 communication to the Senators from Maryland, attempting to show 

 the vast imi)ortance of }-our iin-ention to the Agricultural interests of 

 the United States, and the strong claims you had to a renewal of your 

 patent, and requested them as the Representatives of your State in the 

 Senate, to give their attention and influence to accomplish that end. 



At a subsequent Session, this request was repeated, to one or both 

 of the Senators from that State. 



I can also state with certainty that hardly a Session of Congress 

 has passed since your memorial w as first presented, at which prominent 

 and Scientific Agriculturists, in different parts of the Country, who 

 were acquainted with the merits of your invention, have not used their 

 influence with Members of Congress to obtain a renewal of your patent. 

 Any pretense therefore, that your Claim has not been duly presented, 

 notified to the public, and urged with all proper care and diligence 

 upon the attention of Congress, I repeat is totally u?ifounded. 



It will be a stain upon the justice of the Country, if one whom truth 

 and time must rank among its greatest Benefactors, shall be stricken 

 down and permitted to die in indigence by the interested and unworthy 

 efforts thus made to defeat you. 



Vou are at liberty to use this statement in any manner you may 

 desire. Very truly and respectfully. 



Your Ob't Se'r'vt, 

 CHA'S E. SHERMAN. 



Harkwood, 9th Mo. 7, '54. 

 Estee?ued Frie7id, 0. Hussey : 



I duly received, and have carefully read the Pamphlet by W. N. P. 

 Fitzgerald, [the attorney for a few interested parties at the North,] in 

 opposition to the extension of the Patent of 1S33. And in answer to 

 the queries, whether the charges are true that no efforts have been 

 made to procure the passage of the bill by Congress, or that they 

 have been "secretly" or "covertly" made, I can state from my per- 

 sonal knowledge, that they are not only untrue in fact, but entirely 

 groundless. 1 was not previousl}* aware, that claims could be " secretly " 



