Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 227 
orought against Messrs. Miller & Whitney, for the recovery of twenty 
thousand dollars which as part of the contract, had been paid them. 
At the last session of the Legislature, Mr. Whitney was enabled not 
only to furnish satisfactory evidence of his being the original inventor of 
the gin, but to explain away all former misrepresentations, and to show 
that the very Patent of the person who had attempted to wrest from 
him his right, had been repealed in a court of justice. ‘Two models of 
agin were also furnished by Mr. Whitney, executed we are told in a 
most superior and masterly mamner, and far surpassing in excellence, 
any machinery of the kind ever before seen—they were of metal, 
and so nicely, and substantially made, that it was hardly possible for 
them to get out of order; and they worked with such ease, that when 
the hopper of a forty Saw Gin was filled with cotton, the labor of turn- 
ing it was not greater than that of turning a common grindstone. 
The models were highly approved, and the Legislature did not hes- 
itate to do justice to the ingenious inventor, according to their origin- 
al agreement; and we are pleased to see that they disclaimed the 
monstrous doctrine, of a Legislature’s having authority to rescind a 
solemn contract made with an individual, and of their being justified 
in refusing to do right, because they have the power to do wrong. 
“Our sister State of South Carolina, has usually been very far 
from discovering any disposition to do injustice to individuals, and 
their Proceedings against Mr. Whitney, were predicated upon im 
sition practised on them, and their recent conduct evidences that they 
Were satisfied thereof. ? 
“The following is the report of the committee. 
“The joint Committee of both branches of the Legislature, to whom 
was referred the memorial of Eli Whitney, 
. PORT, that on the most mature deliberation, they are of opinion 
that Miller & Whitney, from whom the State of South Carolina pur- 
chased the patent right for using the Saw Gin within this State, have 
sed due and proper diligence to refund the money and notes receiv- 
ed by them from divers citizens; and as from several unforeseen 
Ceurrences the said Miller & Whitney have heretofore been pre- 
Yented from refunding the same; they therefore recommend that 
© Money and notes aforesaid, be deposited with the Comptroller 
*ral, to be paid over on demand, to the several persons from 
Whom the same have been received, upon their delivering up the 
licences for Which the said notes of hand were given, and said 
Nt Paid to the Comptroller General, and that he be directed to 
Old the said licences subject to the order of said Whitney. 
