New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-17


audacity of those who committed them became 30
great that more than sixty brought against
the makers OF users of illegal machines. To complete
the dfmay of both Miller and Whitney, intelligence
reached them that the English manufacturer pro-
nOunced the cotton cleaned by the gin 10 be greatly '
ured in the staple. Their invention had been Pra'eo;
their property destroyed by Ere bat this was ihe neA'.
lest blow of all. The merchants in Savannah refused
to purchase except reduced price. ana hvai ma'
chine, the roller GIN which separated The SEED from
the stape by crushing the former between two roers
seemed likely to become the public favorie AT this
time 1896 they had thirty gins In operation, al eight
different stations and insolvency seemed about to
overtake them Through this year and the next they
continued 10 struggle under the deepest
Whitney declaring tba; he did nothing than exist.
Al the close of 1871 became apparent that the preu-
dice against the cotton cleaned by their machine had
been aItfuy gotten up and propagaed by the vendors
of the roller gn TO promote tue sale Of thai machine
Various English manufacturers certified ~ the superb
ority Of Whitneys cotton and it again into public
favor finding purchasers for all that offered. This
restoration fits credit gave fresh activity ohe vendors
of illegal gns until their sales became so extensive as
almost 10 destroy the value Of the patent It's own
ers were involved in debt TO be unable to prose-
cute with proper yigor. Ia 1877, however, the frt
sut was brought 10 trial. but tie verdict wa against
them new trial was refused, and then followed
pradgious multiplication Of infIingements The peo-
pie of Georgia seemed bent robbing Whitney OF his
Invention. At Augusta the jurymen came TO an nnder-
standing that they would give verdict in bis favor
no matter what might be the merits OF the case 1t
was not until ten years Later that he succeeded In
bringing another case to trial when lie otaDei per-
petual Injunction In subsequent suits be obtained
verdicts amounting 10 s. $780, but this was compen-
sston for the cos, and labor of obtaining them.
AT this stage of their progress Miller and Whitney
would have gladly reiinquished the plan of working
their own machines and limited their operations 10 the
sale Of rights. But few would buy when all seemed
able to use with IMMUNITY. AT length relief came from
an unexpected qua South Carolina purchased the
right TO the cotton gin in that State for the sum OF
$50 coo. In the following year, 1902, North Carolina
purchased the night for that State, by levyng tax OF
two slillngs and sxpence on every taw employed IN
ginning cotton within the State the same after deduct
ing the cost recollection TO be paid TO the paentee
This compensation Whitney regarded as more liberal
than any he had received. In 1903 similar act, 10
continue in force during four years passed by the
Legislature Of Tennessee. These sses Produced CON-
plete pecur;ry relief, but shortly aerward fol-
lowed BY the death Of lis faithful friend and partner,
Miller. The latter had been the main dependence Of
tn. firm at the South; for Whitney, who early as
1897, had become deeply impressed with the uncer-
tainty Of all his hopes founded on the cotton gin,
had resided most Of bis tine in Connecticut where
be established the first organized mandatory
of arms for the Government. But Millers
death threw the whole burden of the South on his
hands. Many suits stil pending there, and many
were the laborious and fruitess journeys whiehshe
made to prosecute them. Combinations Of all kinds
ma lie among the planters TO deny him the justice
to which he was entitled. Delays were purposey
made TO weary him into anabandOnment Demsgogues
made themselves popular by clsmoring against mo-
nopoly, and at time few men in Georgia dared to
come in court and testify 10 the most simple facts with
in their knowledge relative 10 the Of the machine.
On occasion, be had the utmost difficulty to prove
that i, had been in in Georgia although at the
very moment there were three several machines IN
operation within fifty yards of the building in which
the case was being tried, and that the rafting
of the wheels was distinctly heard the steps Of the
cour-houee. Great public benefsctor have at times
been suffered to perish from neglect but history
tains no record Of dishonesty snd ingattude such as
was practized toward Whitney by the cotton planters
Of Georgia His genius raised them from the depths #
poverty TO wealth and they rewarded him by combin
is slsveholding morality.
In 1912, Whitney memorislized Congress for a re-
pewal of his patent. His memorial gives a graphic
picture Of the frauds committed On him by the cotton
planters, and Of his struggles TO maintain bic rights
among communities banded together 70 accomplish q
common swndle. lie AYERS that for eleven years be
fought these plunderers in the Courts before be could
obtain decision on the inertia Of invention which,
within that period had csnsed the export Of cotton 10
rise from almost nothing up to millions Of pounds, and
that as lsbor-saving machine it enabled man 10
do the work of thousand His whole receipts from
the invention Lad been less than the ssvngs Of single
hour which the machines then in use secured to the
Cotton States The green seedcotton, which cleaned
no admirably had never grown for market though
the most productive of all varieties owing 10 the close
adhesion Of the seed to the staple until bis invention
oyercame the difficulty Bot feeling Of gratitude
TO the great benefactor Of the South animated the
breasts of those who represented that region in Con-
press. True, even thus early in history, to the
dolnineering selfshness Of their peculiar section ma
jorty of them voted against the petition and the patent
for the cotton gin suffered TO expire. Thus in the
first half century OF history has happened TO the
authors Of the greatest inventions among Fitch the
undoubted inventor Of the steamboat, sunk in the
deepest poverty, perished by suicide. Fulton, who
brought Fitchs crude invention TO practical reality,
died unrewardsd and poor. Evans the builder of the
first locomotive met no cheering appreciation Of his
acute mechanical genius, or his far-reachng aspra
tons to insuguIste the railroad.
But this refusal by Congress occasioned no distress
to Whitney. His great manufacOry of arms went on
go prosperously to make him independent In 1917
he was married to Henrietta, daughter Of the Hon.
Pierpont Edwards Five years afterward the disease