The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-24

uon between this city ana w washington on The south
with Buffalo ON the west, and with Boston on thu
| east.
What is to be tho result Of the extension Of cleo
tro-magnetic telegraphsi do not wish to be under
stood as insnuaiing any wrong against the highly
| respectable and enterprising gentlemen who have
with laudable views, commenced stretching theii
wires over the country, and which may become a.
thick as spider webs and. II abused equally fatal
TO regular business pursuits the latter 10 flies
The worthy gentlemen assure US that these faciIi-
ties are not to be abused and they probably sincere
ly believe telegraphs can be used without abuse
am disposed TO think this will be found impructica-
BILE. There are thousands Of ways by which the
immediate operators al the termini Of telegrsphs
may exercise favoritism without detection by the
people. One man can communicate at any hour Of
the night, or between Office hours, with the man at
the opposite end, who abstract the information,
and send il off by express, while the people are
asleep and ignorant of the game.
The bare fact of being itle later than usual in
opening and shutting the door, may afford opportu-
nifty for foul play. There 10 an infinite variety Of
ways in which fraud can be or may be practised.
Extend il ON to Canada, and il may be made one Of
the most powerful agents for smuggling. The
movements Of all custom-house officers could be
watched. II one was to get the track Of contra
band goods, and was about to proceed TO the Cana
dian line or to Boston, to make seizure, the
smuggler could have immediate warning communi-
Gated to him; by means Of which, he could secrete
the goods, and get out ofthe way himself Recollect
i can be used by and for rogues well as against
them.
This, il might be said, would happen, IL the gov
eminent had the exclusive control Of the telegraph;
but it is likely the latter would surround i with
greater safeguards than any company Of private in
dividuas would be capable Of doing. In time Of
war, enemy might bride the attendants Of telc-
graph, and obtain speedy knowledge of all our
movements
My impression is, that the lines never can be
maintained with success by private companies.
Not but they are very desirable and would not fail to
be beneficial to trade and commerce; yet such would
be the jealousy Of the people, that so long they
ty existed, of abusing this great power they would
manifest their dissatisfaction by pulling the wires
down and destroying the stakes.
The first speculations made by electromagnetic
intelligence, however honestly communicated and
honestly acted upon, would cngender q powerful
opposition TO it while managed by private COM
pany. Suppose line of telegraph is established
to New Orleans, (Which hope soon will be done
by government TO be managed by a private COM
pany. steamship arrives from Liverpool with
the news Of half q cent per pound advance on cot
ton. Suppose one man here gets few moments
precedence at the telegraph Office, and tells his
friend at New Orleans of the fact, who Immediately
sends express out among the planters and buys
up their cotton. Do you think that the planters,
thus forestalled in the sale of their cotton, would
not rebel against the telegraph, and probably
demolish the wires, posts, and all--which they
would not feel inclined to do if under the strict IL
gal, and rigid surveillance Of the government.
Take another case. Suppose Cincinnati to be the
western terminus of an Atlantic and western tele.
graph, owned and managed by private company.
Suppose Gas happened last weekly that a steamer
comes in with intelligence, which puts up -four rs
cents per barrel Suppose Spectator who may
precedence at the telegraph Office here, by sleep
ing at the door all night, who may be thus favor
ed by the acting telegraph worker and send off the
rise in -four to his friend in Cincinnati; who, having
horses ready sadded with riders, &C., sends them
off among the farmers to buy up their -four and
wheat before they could hear Of rise. How long
would it be before the farmers of Ohio would assem-
BILE and pull down the telegraph
There is only one way in which this valuable
means of communication can be northumberland
that is, for Congress to take the whole subject in
hand. Secure the lines already laid appropriate
means construct others between all the leading
commercial points and cities in the United States;
make il Illegal for private companies to construct
any line of telegraph except il he first authorized
by law of Congress; prohibit the despatch of
oil commercial news between individuals, until the
editors of newspapers, &c. are first served with
slips containing it, whose duty it shall be to pub
lsh and circulate the same Immediately; and
otherwise throw around the immediate management
Of the telegraphs the strongest kinds guards All
communications should be made in the presence OF
three TCSpOnSlDie men h5 inspectors VINO, IN
addition to being sworn, sh ould give bond and Sc.
curty for the faithful discharge Of their responsible
duties. Ii should also be their duty to keep the
keys of the telegraph Office, and have it guarded
as to render il impossible for the wires to be
worked except when they are present. The subject
is very important one, and should engage the early
and serious attention of Congress.
did intend to have noticed in this letter the last
episte Of the Paris correspondent of the Courier
DIES Eats Unis, recounting his interview with Nd
Guzot, the prime minister of Louis Philippe, but
have not space to do so at present. The correspond
ent alluded to, is other than the editor of the
Courier, viz: M. Gaillardet. Il is said this French
paper was originally established in New York, with
funds advanced by Joseph Bonaparte. 1t subse-
quenty passed from the hands Of its first editors to
M. Gaillardet, who, in his political opinions, is of
the royal or Legitimacy" order have understood,
80 ant-republican and monarchical have his opin-
ions become since his residence in Paris that he has
been honored by the government with the title Of
"chepalier," or "knght;" so that we must now
know him as M. le Cheualier Gmllardtt. Consider
ing his new position, cannot be surprised at some
remarks he has occasionally INDUCED in towards the
United States. Not long since, some random editor
in this country, commenting upon the mode of con-
busting the war in Algeria by France, censurcd it
as cruel, &c. This excited the ire of M. le
Chevalier Gailardet, who became very stsavagc''
towards the United States; charging us with be-
ing guilty of worse conduct towards Mexico &c;
when the whole world knows, or might learn, there
is as much difference between the two cases, as
there is between ga horse chestnut and a chestnut
horse" @
We have two synods in session in New York
one the old school, and the other the new.
The Welsh Benevolent Society Of this city hold
their anniversary the 28h instant, at 406 Broad
way, Belviderc rooms
Meetings of the New York bar have been held, to
pay tribute Of respect to the memory Of MIR. De
Witt, deceased member, by the passage of appro-
pirate resolutions.
Mrs. Hannah Cough died the other day, at the
advanced age of 100 years. She boosted having
seen and conversed with all the American Presi-
dents.
City, halfpast 4, p. m.-An extensive building,
lately erected on Randas island for the winter resi-
dence of the poor orphan children and foundngs at
present on Long Island farms, was burnt down last
night, together with their supply of provisions, &C.
The loss to the city amounts to about $4,000 or
S60000. II is a severe loss, at this season Of the
year, to the poor children.
The semi-annual Unitarian convention is now in
session at the church of the Messiah.
n g. - e n