Obed Hussey, Who, of All Inventors, Made Bread Cheap
History
Obed Hussey, Who, of All Inventors, Made Bread Cheap
Harvesting machinery; Hussey, Obed, 1792-1860
"From that period to the present time, I do not think there has been
a single Congress at which all proper efforts were not made to
obtain the action of that Body. Members were not annoyed with
indecent importunity; nor were any powerful combinations of
interested individuals resorted to, to force your Claim upon the
consideration of Congress. This was not in accordance with your
taste, or your means. I well remember, however, that you frequently
visited this City on that business; and that at almost every
session, you either brought or sent to me, to be laid before
Congress, some new evidence of the triumph of your great invention.
These documents were faithfully laid before that body, or sent to
the senators from Maryland for that purpose. On one occasion, as
your agent, I addressed a somewhat extended communication to the
Senators from Maryland, attempting to show the vast importance of
your invention to the Agricultural interests of the United States,
and the strong claims you had to a renewal of your patent, and
requested them as the Representatives of your State in the Senate,
to give their attention and influence to accomplish that end.
"At a subsequent Session, this request was repeated, to one or both
of the Senators from that State.
"I can also state with certainty that hardly a Session of Congress
has passed since your memorial was first presented, at which
prominent and Scientific Agriculturalists, in different parts of the
Country, who were acquainted with the merits of your invention, have
not used their influence with Members of Congress to obtain a
renewal of your patent. Any pretense, therefore, that your Claim has
not been duly presented, notified to the public, and urged with all
proper care and diligence upon the attention of Congress, I repeat
is totally unfounded.
"It will be a stain upon the justice of the Country, if one whom
truth and time must rank among its greatest Benefactors, shall be
stricken down and permitted to die in indigence by the interested
and unworthy efforts thus made to defeat you.
"You are at liberty to use this statement in any manner you may
desire.
"Very truly and respectfully,
"Your Ob't Ser'vt,
"CHA'S E. SHERMAN."
Although not coming in the natural order of events, I quote from an
enclosure found in a letter written to Hon. H. May, evidently a member
of Congress. Mr. Hussey having failed to apply for an extension of his
1833 patent early enough, a bill was introduced in Congress with an
extension in view. In some correspondence between Mr. Hussey and the
Hon. H. May an enclosure is found reading as follows:
[Sidenote: Mr. Hussey's Defense]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account