No. 199.] 417 



from which certain of our modern statesmen obtained reasons for the 

 violence of their opposition to Internal Improvements, and the en- 

 couragement of Domestic Industry. 



Sir Edward Coke, in his learned disquisition on the Law of Patents, 

 lays down these two doctrines : First, he says, " a patent is not gran- 

 table, for an invention that is not generlaly convenient. ^^ He cites as 

 an illustration of the rule, a solemn decision, of which he highly ap- 

 proves, in the case of an invention, by means of which a material for 

 bonnets and caps might be thickened in a fulling-mill, in greater num- 

 bers in one day, than by the labor of four score men. On the validi- 

 ty of this patent coming in question, the court determined it was void., 

 on account of its " inconvenience-^'' by " making workmen idle.'''' 



The other doctrine laid down by Sir E. Coke, is, " that no patent 

 can be good, which is for an addition to an old manufacture." And 

 for this, a grave decision is cited, in which the Court said, " that it 

 was much easier to add than to invent, for adding was only putting a 

 new button on an old coat." 



3d pt. Institutes— 5 vol., p. 184 — Title, "Against Monopolists." 



In the same spirit of liberality.^ a prosecution for Treason was had 

 in the Reign of Edward IV., when a man named William Walters, 

 who kept the Crown Tavei-n in Cheapside, was hanged, drawn and 

 quartered, for saying to his little boy, to keep him quiet, " that he 

 would one day, make him Heir to the Crown." 



The speaker said, — how well, from such extracts, may we learn at 

 this day, the blessings of our age and country. May we not hope that 

 the violence of opposition will cease, against the countervailing mea- 

 sures and a just protection, against foreign encroachments. 



After a few other remarks, upon this and kindred subjects, the 

 speaker brought his observations to a close. He said he would finally 

 avail himself of this opportunity to remark, that he had received "gi-a- 

 tifying information from gentlemen of the South, and from sources 

 which he deemed reliable, that the South had entered into manufac- 

 tures. Georgia already had her forty-five cotton factories; South 



lAssembly, No. 199.1 27 



