Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-12
NOTE. BY THE EDITORS.

We give place, with cheerfuness to the preceding
from the Representatives in Congress from the State of
Tennessee and should have let pass without word had
it simply corrected in the report of the honorable
gentleman speech without the addition expressions which
TO demand from a few words Of explanation in be-
half Of the Reporters.
FIRsr Literal reports Of speeches delivered in Congress
be expected and have been made in any pub
lie body. The echoes, and other interfering sounds in the
Hall of Representatives preclude the idea of such reports
that body.
SECONDLY Full reports Of the debates in that body
be expected because the capacity Of daily paper pub
ished in Washington could contain them Nor they at
all necessary for the only purpose for which the Publishers
incur the expense Of such reports made
which purpose to publish daguereoype portraits ESQ
speak Of each Members Speech but to inform the readers Of
the paper reported for Of the reasons generally, which
urged for against any public For this purpose
may indeed be asked and the question would be well put
why publish than speech each side of any
question To which reply, that it from habit rather
than from reason that publish many speeches
each side Tor all deso there sometimes several
sdes) Of question. We under obligation Of any
to do it and readers would often be better pleased
the space columns otherwise occupied The habit Of
which speak contracted when this paper the sole
reporter Of debates in Congress- and able to report the
debates large with less inconvenience they did
half the length that they do, in the aggregate,
under the hour-rue.
THnDLr. If the reports be both literal and accurate
(of speeches spoken) they would require frequently
corrections after their appearance than gentlemen
find necessary the most accurate speaker OCCASION
ally other words prope names, dates and figures
ciay) than he Intends mspronounccs words, omis
obvious word idea, repeats unconcousy what he had
but just before said This is class of bundcs sometimes
unlucky than any that reporters usually make which
the intelligent reporter, knowing what the speaker means,
always takes to correct
FINALLY. As it is impossible, in the nature Of things,
consistently with daily reports om day day)which
written between the hours Of five and twelve o'clock in the
evening" and sent press before the ink is drythat
opportunity can be given 10 each Member revise the report
synopsis of his speech any occasion, much allowance
should be made for the Reporters anxious Of all things to do
their duty fairly and faithfully, and for the Publishers who
spread their labors before the public
BY the readers Of the reports, also, should be borne in
mind that the object and aim Of reports above stated and
that Members of Congress should not be held responsible for
the Of expression in the published report OF any
debate defect Of want ofconnexon In the re-
ported remarks unless they understood TO have written
them themselves for publication at least revised the
reports.
The note from Mr. THoxAs was received after his speech
(o other side Of this shee had passed through the
TnE TELEenAPn WInrs.-Scveral Unsuccessful efforts
have made suspend the wires the Mississippi az
ST. Louis On Saturday evening week. after the wire mao
been brought over but before il drawn up boat going
out run across and broke it. They repaired u and sue
ceeded in getting over and drawn up high mat 'ne er
boat passed under it, but during the night was poke1, pro-
baby by boat coming into port Yesterday they made sew
era unsuccessful attempts AT time they go over,
when boat going bfoke il they then go y on, o. ne
water but in attempting to draw u tight ploke ~ ne ~.
Louis Republican thinks Il questionable whether the wire can
be suspended the river high as 70 De OUT OF DANGER
from the boats -
The frs, cod ~ The suspenson bridge the falls Of