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1795

Invention of the Cotton-Gin.

187

Invention of the

made an engagement with a Mr. B., from Georgia, to go to that State and reside in his employer's family as a private teacher. On his way thither he had as a traveling companion Mrs. Greene, widow of the eminent Revolutionary general, who was returning with her cotton-gin. children to Savannah, after spending the summer at the North. Mr. Whitney's health being infirm on his arrival at Savannah, Mrs. Greene kindly invited him to the hospitalities of her residence until he should become fully restored. At that time she happened to be engaged in embroidering on a peculiar frame known as a tambour. It was badly con structed, so that it injured the fabric, while it impeded its production. Whitney eagerly volunteered to make her a better one, and did so on a plan wholly new, to her great delight and that of her children.

11. A large party of Georgians, from Augusta and the plantations above, soon after paid Mrs. G. a visit. Among the topics discussed by them around her fireside was the depressed state of agriculture, and the impossibility of profitably extending the culture of cotton, because of the trouble and expense incurred in separating the seed from the fiber. These representations impelled Mrs. Greene to say: Gentlemen, apply to my young friend, Mr. Whitney—he can make any thing.' She thereupon took them into an adjacent room, where she showed them her tambour-frame, and several ingenious toys which Mr. W. had made for the gratification of her children. She then introduced them to Whitney himself, extolling his genius and commending him to their confidence and friendship.

12. Mr. Whitney promised nothing and gave little encouragement, but went to work. No cotton in the seed being at hand, he went to Savannah and searched there among warehouses and boats until he found a small parcel. This he carried home and secluded with himself in a basement room, where he set himself at work to devise and construct the implement required. Tools being few and rude, he was con

strained to make better-drawing his own wire, because none could, at that time, be bought in the city of Savannah. His mysterious hammering and tinkering in that solitary cell were subjects of infinite curiosity, marvel, and ridicule among the younger members of the family. But he did not interfere with their merriment, nor allow them to interfere with his enterprise; and before the close of the winter his machine was so nearly perfected that its success was no longer doubtful.

Mrs. Greene, too eager to realize and enjoy her friend's triumph, invited an assemblage at her house of leading gentlemen from various parts of the State, and, on the first day after their meeting, conducted them to a temporary building, erected for the machine, in which they saw, with astonishment and delight, that one man with Whitney's invention, could separate more cotton from the seed in a single day than he could without it by the labor of months.

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13. When the cotton-gin was invented the whole business in the interior of the Southern States was in a languishing condition; and for want of employment the inhabitants were leaving. This invention at once set the country

Value of

the in motion. To planters and others, who were Invention. depressed with poverty, it opened the way to employment, wealth and respectability. Cotton soon began to supplant wool, flax, silk, and even fur. By means of this machine the annual production of cotton in the Southern States alone was increased from five thousand bales to over five million bales, or one million tons, in value equal to seveneighths of all the cotton produced on the face of the earth. Then cotton was King, and his majesty on his throne did not seem to be aware of the influence which surrounded his cradle."

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14. The Atlantic States were the chief seat from which issued the migration destined to people the west. An ax,

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Migration a couple of horses, and a heavy rifle, with store of to the West. ammunition, were all that were considered necessary for the equipment of the man who, with his family,

Migration to the West.

189

removed to the new State; assured that, in that land of exuberant fertility, he could not fail to provide amply for all his wants. To have witnessed the industry and perseverance of these emigrants must at once have proved the vigor of their minds. Regardless of the fatigue attending every movement which they made, they pushed through an unexplored region of dark and tangled forests, guiding themselves by the sun alone, and reposing at night on the bare ground. They had to cross numberless streams on rafts, with their wives and children, their cattle, and their luggage, often drifting to considerable distances before they could effect a landing on the opposite shores. To these troubles add the constantly impending danger of being murdered, while asleep in their encampments, by the prowling and ruthless Indians. Others, perhaps encumbered with too much luggage, preferred descending the stream.' They prepared arks pierced with port-holes, and glided on the gentle current.

15. Many travelers have described these boats, formerly called arks, but now named flat-boats; but have they told you that in those times a boat thirty or forty feet in length, by ten or twelve in breadth, was considered a stupendous fabric? -that this boat contained men, women, and children, huddled together with horses, cattle, hogs, and poultry for their companions, while the remaining portion was crammed with vegetables and packages of seed? The roof or deck of the boat was not unlike a farm-yard, being covered with hay, ploughs, carts, wagons, and various agricultural implements, together with numerous other things, among which the spin ning-wheels of the matrons were conspicuous. Have they told you that these boats contained the little all of each family of venturous emigrants, who, fearful of being discovered by the Indians, moved about in darkness when night came on,

The particular stream referred to here is the Ohio river, and the eniigrants were going to the new State of Kentucky; but the description will apply to the western emigrations that took place, not only then, but in succeeding years, and even to recent times.

groping their way from one part to another of their floating habitations, and denying themselves the comforts of fire or light, lest the foe that watched them from the shore should rush upon them and destroy them?"

The

16. The western portion of several of the States extended to the Mississippi river, their colonial charters being the basis for such possession. One after another these States surrendered the control of their western lands to the 15th and general government, and the region north of the 16th States. Ohio was organized under the name of the Northwest Territory (1787). From the region south of the Ohio, two States were formed during the administration of Washington, Kentucky,1 previously a part of Virginia (1792), and Tennessee, previously a part of North Carolina (1796).

Retirement

17. Washington had now served nearly eight years, having been unanimously re-elected for a second term. In 1796 he was again urged to be a candidate for a third time, but he positively declined. The country, being at peace of with the world and in a prosperous condition, could, Washington. he believed, dispense with his services. In that year he put forth to his countrymen his memorable "Farewell Address," the closing portion of which is herewith given : 18. "In reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, yet I am nevertheless too sensible of my own defects, not to think it probable that I may have committed

Washington's
Farewell
Address.

many errors.

Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the

1 Daniel Boone, the pioneer in the settlement of Kentucky, was born in Pennsylvania in 1735, and died in Missouri in 1820. At the age of eighteen, he went with his father's family to North Carolina, where, a few years later, he was married. After making several hunting excur sions, he set out, in 1769, with five companions, to explore the Kentucky country. During the next twenty-five years, his life, as an explorer, pioneer, hunter, guide, and settler, was the most prominent one in the history of that region. He had many encounters with the Indians, and was three times captured, but in each case effected his escape. In 1775, he built a fort on the Kentucky river, around which grew up the settlement and village of Boonsboro'. After Kentucky was admitted into the Union, Boone removed to Missouri.

1797

Inauguration of Adams.

191

Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest. Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love toward it, which is so natural to a man who views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government-the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers."

John Adams's Administration.

1. John Adams, who had been the vice-president during

the whole period of Washington's administration, was now chosen president; and

Thomas Jefferson was Inauguration

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of Adams.

elected vice-president. Both gentlemen repaired to Philadelphia, then the capital, where, in the presence of the two houses of Congress, of Washington, and other spectators, including a large number of ladies, the inauguration of the new president took place (March 4, 1797). 2. The neutral position taken by the United States in the wars between England and France, deeply offended the latter power, and the ratification of Jay's Treaty by the American

JOHN ADAMS.

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