The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-13
CURIOUS ANEcDoTE, IF CORRECT


We have no time to hunt the archives Of the
the following statement. But though we have the
highest respect for the authority Of Mr. Johnson and
Mr.. Brent, we should hope there was some
mistake in the matter. But if true, what moral
does it read to us! How short-sighed were the en-
lghtened representatives Of this go-ahead age, and
especially Of this nation, whose country and whose
institutions are new and which is distinguished be-
yond all the race for the bodness of its conceptions
and the importance Of its innovations A free peo-
pie has always this trait about them. Mind itself,
among free people, becomes buoyant and unfet-
tered. They think boldly. They act independents
ly. They scarcely ever condemn anything before
it be fairly tried and closely investigated because it
appears magnificent and new.
That the great inventor of steam navigation,
who has introduced the most important inven-
tion of the present eventful age, should have
been denied the privilege of expounding his great
discovery in the legislative hall of the nation, would
appear strange and wonderful indeed. Compare
tha. time with ihs--the past, when the power of"gi
santic steam was in its infancy, and the present,
when the genius of Fulton is unfolding prodges to
mortal sight. It seems scarcely possible that the
House of Representatives could have paid so little
respect even to the embryo scheme which has de-
veloped such magnificent results. No part of Mr..
Aliens eloquent speech of Wednesday last struck
us more forcibly than the picture he drew of Bona
parties refusing to prof. by the invention of Robert
Fulton.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
W,ehin1fop Eehruarv IL 18AR
Sin: You will confer favor BY publishing the
enclosed.
Very truly, your obedient servant
J. s. YosT.
THOMAS RITcHIE, esq.
ROBERT FULTON.
SSome years since the Hon. VIM. Cost Johnson,
in addressing the people of Maryland upon public
affairs, referring to the difficulty Of impressing upon
the public mind any new measures, however useful,
mentioned, amongst other instances Of public in
credulity, the fact that the House of Representa-
tives of the United States had refused to Robert
Fulton the use Of its hall to deliver lecture upon
steam navigation, upon the ground that IL ,oas a
visionary scheme. Mr. Johnson, being in this city
on transient visit, friend Of his addressed him
letter respectfully requesting him to state from what
source he derived this Information. His reply ia
herewith:
WARRINGTON, February 10, 1916.
DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter of this date,
desiring to know the source from whence derived
the fact that the House OF Representatives Of the
United States refused to allow the Representative
hall to Robert Fulton for the purpose OF delivering
lecture to illustrate the practicability Of steam for
the purposes Of navigation, upon the belief that his
views were wholly visionary, have to say that
was informed by the Hon. William Brent, at
present charge d'affaires Of the United States at
Buenos Ayres; and believe he also informed me
that he was present in the hall when the refusal
made by large majority.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
VIM. COST JOHNSON.
To JoHN CoNsELL, esq.