The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-18
From the Buffalo IN. y, Courier, NO,.i4
The Magnetic Telegraph

|
The accuracy with which returns of the late election
IRON all sections OF the Union transmitted by this re-
markabie agent has given additional i'm DO trance
IL has now fairly made good claim as a reliable means
OF transmitting intelligence No doubt the industry and
energy OF the supernendents and operators of the several
lines contributed much to the brilliant triumph of art
known to modern times We notice in papers from all
sections the highest commentators passed upon those
gentlemen.
Some idea may be formed of the extraordinary Work
accomplished by the telegraph, from the fact stated by the
New York Herald, that before twelve o'clock Tuesday
night It announced returns of the elections had taken
place during the day, from fourteen of Union
Before the result of tie election New York city
known returns were received from nine other States The
returns of The ST. Louis election received about one
hour past midnight by way of Chicago, after travelling
distance equal TO that the Atlantic and had
line broken down south of Fayetteville, and Pitts
burg and Phadelphia would have been
N New York on Wednesday morning from the whole Uni
ted states As II the successful candidate known
before the closing of the day of the election.
We, too, cheerfuly bear testimony to The general
accuracy OF the returns of the late election transmitted
through the telegraph and TO the great which
this wonderful agent has afforded the people, commn
eating TO them almost simultaneously, it were the
final result in the different States of the confederacy
To suppose that among the many thousand messages
transmitted from point another mistakes can be al
ways avoided to assume that the human agency which
controls the direction of the magnetic fuid or the tran.
scpton of its signs, possesses the attribute of nfali-
blity. Errors have of course sometimes occurred as
they have also done when similar returns have had pub
Lefty through the ordinary channels Of the latter class
we have abundant proof the contradictory of the
advices which daily reach from Virginia The rapid
ty of the telegraph is immense advantage; but in
few may interfere with the accuracy of the returns
these occasionally incorrect. it generally no fault
of the eIepranh-it the of sondu
who the first report he of an election and
sends it Immediately through the magic wire whereas
before the mail starts there is occasionally time correct
the first impression by subsequent and more detailed in
formation. But when to compare the rapidity
OF communication when the mail has the advantage
of the railroad. it is the difference between the crawl
ing OF the snail and the velocity of the eagle.
While this point, may as well notice very
small piece of cynical carpng which the Raleigh Regis
offers the taste of its readers, upon telegraphic
despatch which forwarded to as the other day BY
friend Holden, of the Standard 1t appears that the
last sentence written by him "the State gone for
Taylor by thousands but in its passage us through the
telegraph Office clerical error was committed some
where the road, by dropping the "s" and our COM
positor, to whom it given the moment it was re-
ceved, set up the word in igures-"1 600" This we
learn, is cusomary the telegraph transmitting votes
&c., always in words, which, for very obvious reasons
are changed into figures the newspapers is out of
this simple and nofensve matter that the Raleigh Re-
gister raises tempest in teapot, and initiates itself
into such fearful dimensions that there seems to be i'm
mnent danger of its sharing the fate of the frog in the
fable-it may burst in its effort.
We have sent to MIR. Holden the despatch, Just as we
received it from the telegraph Office as well to shield
ourselves from any suspicion of careessness as to allie
viate the pangs of the mountain, and mofy the ndg-
nant Register.