It looks as if he is replying back to them about a situation that got him confined during "constructive": work as he talk about himself and his work while asking or waiting for an answer back .
Gridlock, or deadlock, is a situation where there is a difficulty to pass laws that please people and their needs.
Hope it helps!
Answer:
Long staple cotton was profitable because the cotton fibers could be easily separated from the seeds. ... While reducing the number of slaves needed to grow cotton the cotton gin greatly increased the areas where cotton could be profitably grown. This increased the demand for slaves.
