232 Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 



it then to be imagined that if this machine had been before discov- 

 ered, the use of it would ever have been lost, or could have been 

 confined to any tract or country left unexplored by commercial en- 

 terprize? but it is unnecessary to remark further upon this subject. 

 A number of years have elapsed since Mr. Whitney took out his 

 patent, and no one has produced or pretended to prove the existence 

 of a machine of similar construction or use. 



" 2d. With regard to the utility of this discovery, the court would 

 deem it a waste of time to dwell long upon this topic. Is there a 

 man who hears us, who has not experienced its utility ? the whole 

 interior of the Southern States was languishing, and its inhabitants 

 emigrating for want of some object to engage their attention, and 

 employ their industry, when the invention of this machine at once 

 opened views to them which set the whole country in active motion. 

 From childhood to age it has presented to us a lucrative employment. 

 Individuals who were depressed with poverty and sunk in idleness, 

 have suddenly risen to wealth and respectability. Our debts have 

 been paid off. Our capitals have increased, and our lands trebled 

 themselves in value. We cannot express the weight of the obligation 

 which the country owes to this invention. The extent of it cannot 

 now be seen. Some faint presentiment may be formed from the re- 

 flection that cotton is rapidly supplanting wool, flax, silk, and even 

 furs in manufactures, and may one day profitably supply the use of 

 specie in our East India trade. Our sister States, also, participate 

 in the benefits of this invention ; for, besides affording the raw ma- 

 terial for their manufacturers, the bulkiness and quantity of the article 

 afford a valuable employment for their shipping. 



" 3d. The third and last ground taken by defendant, appears to 

 be that on which he mostly relies. In the specification, the teeth 

 made use of are of strong wire inserted into the cylinder. A Mr. 

 Holmes has cut teeth in plates of iron, and passed them over the 

 cylinder. This is certainly a meritorious improvement in the me- 

 chanical process of constructing this machine. But at last what does 

 it amount to, except a more convenient riiode of making the same 

 thing. Every characteristic of Mr. Whitney's machine is preserved. 

 The cylinder, the iron tooth, the rotary motion of the tooth, the 

 breast work and brush, and all the merit that this discovery can as- 

 sume, is that of a more expeditious mode of attaching the tooth to 

 the cylinder. After being attached, in operation and effect they are 

 entirely the same. Mr. Whitney may not be at liberty to use Mr. 



