American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-15
,.Amcricou Republican,
AID
BALTIMORE CLIPPER.
TUESDAY MORNING, Dro. Is ls46.

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. We are gratihod
90 be- able TO announce that memorial to
Coorress. in favor of the purchago for public
uss of the existing lines Of the Magnetic fele-
yraph. will b. submitted ia Il few days, to the
citizens of Baltimore for their signatures; and,
asItIs Of great importance to nave The lels-
graDh taken out of tho hands of private ind.Vl
duals and conducted exclusively by Off ;ers OF
the general government, We presume that the
memorial will be generally signed, especially
BY the commercial community. a similar
memorial we understand, will be circulated IN
Philadelphia, New York, Boston, &c.
We are truly plea ed at the strong recon-
mendation Of this measure BY the Post-ma''e
General IN the report which he has Just made
20 CONGRESS; and we feel we'll assured, that the
reasons which he assigns for desiring that the
government shall possess the control OF the
Telegraph, will have great influence with
Congrcss--inGeed, VIC believe that it will be-
come indispensable to take this step in order to
save the revenue of the Post Office Depart
ment from being impaired to rulnous extent
to say nothing of the duty of Congress to pre-
vent the practice Of fraud by tho improper use
Of the Telegraph.
We quote from the report of the Postmaster
General the following paragraphs in relation
to the Magnetic Telegraph, and hope that his
recommendation will be promptly adopted by
Congress:
The Telegraph between this city and Bati-
more has been kept regularly in operation un-
til the LIST December. A statement Of the in
come and expenditures from the time it WAS
placed under tho control of the Depart ment is
herewith communicated, marked ID.
Under the authority given at the last SEES
sion of Congress, all arrangement has been
made with MessTs Vail and Rogers, the prin-
cpal officers having charge of 1t, by which the
line will be kept up until the 4th of March
next, for its profits, and without any further
calls upon the Treasury.
In my last annual communication, brought
to your notice this extraordinary invention of
Professor Morse Tor the transmission of nteill-
gence; it's importance in all commercial transac-
tons TO those having the control of it, aud to
the Government itself, particularly in period
of war. then expressed the opinion that an
instrument so powerful for good or for evil,
could not, with safety to the citizen, be permit
ted to remain in the hands of individuals un-
controlled by law. Another years experience
gives additional weight to the opinions then
expressed
ieIegraphc lines have been established from
New York to Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington city; and others are
in contemplation from this city south and Buff
falo west, and will be extended TO the primer
pal cities of the Union in few years. 1t now
enables those controlling it to transmit intelh-
gence simultaneously between the different c-
ties where it has been established, and to the
important commercial points in the south and
west several days in advance of the mails
The evils which the community may suffer or
the benefits which individuals may derive from
the possession of such an instrument under the
control Of private associations, or incorporated
companies, not controlled by law, cannot e
oVer-esIlmated.
may further add, that the Department, Gre
ated under the constitution, and designed TO
exercise exclusive power for the transmission of
intelligence, must necessarily be superseded in
much of its important business IN few years.
if the Telegraph DO permitted to remain under
the control of individuals. Ii is the settled COLI
viction of the undersigned, that the public i'll
terest, as well as the safety OF the citizens, re-
quires that the Government should get the ex-
elusive control of it, by purchase, or that its
use should be restricted to the restraints of law.
Entertaining these opinions, | addressed let
ter to the President of the Association owning
the patent-rght, to ascertain, as far as pract-
cable, the probable cost, if Congress should be
inclined to make the purchase. A copy of the
reply is herewith communicated, marked E.
The Association is willing to dispose of the
light to the Government, but is unwilling to
enter upon any negotiations upon the subject
without authority first given by Congress.
also caused enquiry to be made from the
best sources of information, as to the cost OF
construction, the expense of keeping up the
lines, the profits and capabty of such lines
for the transmission of Intelligence. | have
received replies giving minute and detailed
statements upon the subjects referred to, which
remain on the files OF the Department, for the
use of Congress, should they DO deemed neces-
sary."