The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-03
THE MAGNETIC TELEGRApH.-We were among

THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.-We were among
the number who expected great benefits from the
establishment of the Magnetic Telegraph between
this city and Washington; when the company
was in the process of formation wrote and pub
lished numerous articles in ofth journals of the
city in its behalf; we undertook to show how being
open to all, it would obviate much of the abuse,
sharp trade, and speculation, approaching as near
as possible TO swindling, attending the system of
private expresses then in vogue; we persuaded
ourselves, and fear bel ped to persuade Others,
that it would benefit the business of the merchant,
benefit the planter whose produce was in the mar
ket for sale, and benefit all classes of the commu-
nifty by the early transmission of accurate intelli
gence available to every one. All this we have
done-and sorely repent of the sin which we CON-
mitted, though we sinned through Ignorance of the
extent of human depravity and the boldness of
honorable and respectable rascality.
Since the line has been opened, we have had
nothing to say in its behalf. Anxious, as all pro.
phets are, that their predictions should be fulfilled,
we have earnestly sought for single fact, connected
with the operations of the line, which would give
seeming justification to our advocacy of its merits
and advantages. Instead of being medium of in
formation to all, it has been used for the misead-
ing of the many, to secure undue advantages to the
few. No person who uses it has any assurance
that his communications will be transmitted as they
are delivered or, any thing is to be gained by sup
pressing them, that they will be transmitted at all
Instead of obvang the evils of the express SYSTEM
it has increased those evils hundred fold, for the
same persons connected with the express have OBJ
tanned the control of the telegraph; and the COM
municatons to others delayed, or not forwarded
at ALL in order that intelligence these interested
parties may be sent in advance. In addition to
this preference, which has become notorious affi-
davts, published yesterday morning in the Delta,
show that the Vice President of the Company Mr..
Cammack-who is generally reputed to be one of
the express gentlemen-now claims, in addition to
the preference accorded to him and his friends in
the transmission of information the right of reading
all communications received by or sent from other
persons in the cty-and that he does habitually read
them. This act of Mr.. Cammack may be very
innocent one in his case-he may not use the in
formation thus obtained to serve his own ends-he
may not seek to benefit his friends and injure his
enemies by the knowledge gained from prying
into the private affairs and business transactions of
his neighbors-but what ne is permitted to do,
others may be allowed to do also-and any one can
imagine the consequences to the business of the
community and to the interests of those obliged to
make use of the telegraph, if such a course were
allowed to of less spotless reputation and less
immaculate virtue. At all events, the Legislature
at its last session seemed to think that such conduct
was dangerous and criminal, for it passed law
imposing heavy penalties upon persons connected
with the telegraph who should show preference
ILL Il,
messages, or who should expose reveal, or make
use Of" any message which may come into their
possession. The Legislature was, we imagine
more than half right-the act is crime, and a
crime of the worst kind-for it is betrayal of the
confidence which circumstances compel our mer-
chants and others to place in men endowed by law
with monopoly to which they must pay tribute
and if a sudden and remarkable change does not
take place in the administration of the affairs of the
Telegraph Office, we indulge the well grounded
hone that some connected with it will soon be
furnished with safe and quiet quarters at the ex-
pense of the State. As it is, things have come to
such pass that men in business are obliged to
make use of the Telegraph, or to be entirely out
stripped by those who do it, and they placed
in the comfortable position that they cannot refrain
from employing it without sustaining loss, nor yet
resort to it with any hope of safety. They are
PLAYING against gentlemen who have arranged to
perfection the game of Heads | win and tails you
lose - The mere surmise that such state of things
existed, made many feel uncomfortable, but they
need no longer labor under the anxiety of doubt
the following afidavits place them in state of I'M
enviabe certainty:
l, Charles Middlebrook, telegraph operator and JIM.
Geenhow and l. Arthur Barbarn clerks Of the telegraph
Office being requested by Stockholders OF the Washington
and New Orleans Telegraph Company, make the following
statement;
Company, viz since September Is. Mr.. r. C.. Cammack
has often, in presence examined and read dispatches
frequently looked over and read the files Of dispatches sent
and received This has often and frequently been done in
OBJECTION hous boh the
Mid ebrook and receiving clerk, Greenhow) have often
is 9. ts
Mr. we Of s Mr.
the rules Of the Compsny the had any au
e
December J. Mason %spG? FEss1oEw;
Sworn to and subscribed before this rst day of Janu
ary A d. lS49, by three Opponents as above signed
Second Justice of the Peace for the Parish of Orleans
the State of Louisiana.
But even under the system of preference and
espionage existing relative to the communications
of individuals, there would be some safety to the
community generally, if the Telegraph Company
acted with common honesty and fairness towards
the press. The newspapers could, in that case,
give to the world that intelligence in relation to
great political movements, the state of trade, and
the fluctuations of the markets, which affect the
business of the people, and thus place all upon an
equality. But such has not been the course of the
Telegraph Company. The press has been treated
worst of all. But this is a matter about which We
know great deal, and intend to say more than we
have room for to-day; we shall, therefore, defer
our remarks until tomorrow or next day. This
dose will, perhaps, suffice for this morning.
MURDER OF MINIsTER.-The Elizabethtown
(Ky.) Register speaks of the mysterious disappear.