390 (Assembly 



tence of the invention as far back as the date of such original, and 

 you have a combination of things, the joint operation of which is 

 truly alarming, opening a door for foul fraud and deception, and re- 

 sulting in the most glaring injustice and the most intolerable outrage 

 upon the rights of men and community, ever passively endured. 



By it a patentee is enabled, by the use of an ex-parte affidavit of 

 any vile vagabond, to gather up in some old patent, for a useless skel- 

 eton of an invention, and appropriate to himself all the inventions 

 upon the subject-matter to which it belongs, which others have pro- 

 duced for the last thirteen or fourteen years, and this, too, with no 

 opportunity on their part to be heard in opposition. By it, and the 

 use of the same means, he is enabled to extend the bounds of his old 

 patent over all the new territory discovered by others subsequently to 

 the date of his original patent. By it, and the use of like means, he 

 is enabled to expand his old patent and swallow^ up, not only what 

 others have since invented and put into use, but even what they have 

 patented and sold long before he ever conceived or dreamed of the 

 existence of such a thing. By it, and the use of like means, he can 

 manufacture legal evidence to the effect, that he made a discovery or 

 an invention years before it was ever known or made at all. By it, 

 and the use of like means, he can wrest, from, other citizens, inventions 

 which they have made, which belong to th&m as first inventors, and 

 even, which they have patented and long had in public use. 



Thus it is, that old relics of patents, by this system of re-issues, arc 

 converted into nets to surround and gather up for the benefit of their 

 owners, the rich fruits of others' skill, genius and labor. 



Thus it is, that old patents, for inventions of no use or value, and 

 even not new, are set as traps to ensnare meritorious inventors and 

 harrass the public ; and thus it is, that old patents, for inventions long 

 ago abandoned by the patentee, as containing no novelty, are resus- 

 citated by fraud and corruption, and sprung upon the community in 

 the form of re-issues, to take from citizens their property and vested 

 rights. This is a growing evil, so great and important, that its re- 

 moval is worthy of the best attention of Congress, and its continuance 

 is a foul stain upon the character of our national intelligence. 



