constituents, if elected. Randolph told him he was like one of his
overseers, a plausible fellow, but on whom little reliance was to
be placed--and who, desiring to show what fine crops he had
raised, exhibited a better tally board than the crop could
justify. "I told him," said Randolph, "this is very good tally,
John, but where's the corn? and I tell the gentleman, I don't want
to see his tally, but the corn--the evidence of what he ever did
to entitle him to a seat in Congress." The effect was electric,
and the hustings rang with plaudits. Now we would say to C. H.
McCormick, this is very good tally, John, but where's the Corn?
The evidence that the machine ever cut a single acre of grain.

[Sidenote: "John Smith"]

In a long communication to Commissioner Burke in 1848, together with a
list of sales and profits, C. H. McCormick states, and on oath, that he
had exhibited his machine in 1840 or 1841 to a considerable number of
farmers and _very satisfactorily_, though but one person could be
induced to purchase--a Mr. John Smith we believe--and that up to 1842,
_eleven_ years after the alleged invention, he had sold but two
machines, and one of them conditionally. Again, in the _same paper_
he states, "but they failed to operate well," and had to be altered--in
other words they would not work at all. Amongst others, he had applied
to "the farmer of Virginia, Mr. Sampson," for a certificate as to the
satisfactory working of the machine, but it was declined.

We are not surprised at this; for some 35 years ago we were personally
acquainted with this "farmer of Virginia," and also with his mode of
farming; and know that a machine of any kind to please him _must
work_ and must also work "_well_." Richard Sampson was at that
early day in this "age of progress," one of the best and most practical
farmers in the "Old Dominion," and was not a man to be "caught napping,"
either at home or abroad.

The record shows that "on March 29, 1848, the Board met agreeably to
adjournment--Present, James Buchanan, Secretary of State, Edmund Burke,
Commissioner of Patents, and R. H. Gillett, Solicitor of the
Treasury--and having examined the evidence adduced in the case decide
that said patent ought not to be extended."

(Signed) "JAMES BUCHANAN,
"Secretary of State.

"EDMUND BURKE,
"Commissioner of Patents.

"R. H. GILLETT,
"Solicitor of the Treasury."

This eviden