Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 245 
though so great advantages had been already experienced, and the 
prospect of future benefits was so promising, still, many of those whose 
interest had been most promoted, and the value of whose roperty 
had been most enhanced by this invention, had obstinately persisted 
inrefusing to make any compensation to the inventor. The very 
men whose wealth had been acquired by the use of this machine, 
and who had grown rich beyond all former example, had combined 
their exertions to prevent the patentee from deriving any emolument 
from his invention. From that State in which he had first made, 
and where he had first introduced his machine, and which had de- 
rived the most signal benefits from it, he had received nothing ; and 
from no state had he received the amount of half a cent per pound 
on the cotton cleaned with his machines in one year. Estimating 
the value of the labor of one man at twenty cents per day, the whole 
amount which had been received by him for his invention, was not 
equal to the value of the labor saved in one hour, by his machines 
then in use in the United States. “This invention, (he proceeds) 
how gives to the southern section of the Union, over and above the 
profits which would be derived from the cultivation of any other crop, 
‘annual emolument of at least three millions of dollars.”* The 
foregoing statement does not rest on conjecture,—it is no visionary 
speculation,—all these advantages have been realized ; the planters 
of the southern states have counted the cash, felt the weight of it in 
their pockets, and heard the exhilarating sound of its collision. Nor 
do the advantages stop here : this immense source of wealth is but 
Just beginning to be opened. Cotton is a more cleanly and health- 
{il article of cultivation than tobacco and indigo, which it has super- 
seded, and does not so much impoverish the soil. ‘This invention 
has already trebled the value of the land through a great extent of 
emtory ; and the degree to which the cultivation of cotton may he 
dugmented, is altogether incalculable. This species of cotton 
“8 been known in all countries where cotton has been raised, from 
tine immemorial, but was never known as an article of commerce, 
Until since this method of cleaning it was discovered. In short, (to 
(ote the language of Judge Johnson,) if we should assert that the 
benefits of this invention exceed one hundred millions of dollars, we 
“a0 prove the assertion by correct calculation. “ It is objected that 
Go nS weer palit 
* * ~ 
This was in 1812: the amount of profit is at this time incomparably greater. 
