Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-12
A PLAIN STORY.

SInPlc StatcmcHl Oh lactS III TeiatIcn 10 tue
Presidents Message. On Tuesday Of last
week, one Of the papers Of this city init
mated that arrangements had been made
BY its conductors to receive the Presidents
Message by Telegraph. On that day we
visited the Telegraphery and inquired If
any such arrangements as in.ima,ed had
been made. The Operator informed u.
that none had been made. and that he did
not expect the Message would come over
the line. He moreover promised that if
It did come, due notice would be given rs.
On Wednesday he called to state that the
Message would come over the wires. He
stated the terms to betwenty dollars. We
then told him that we were willing to fall
in with any equitable arrangement to OBJ
tain it that the other Offices might propose,
and asked if he had called at either Of the
other Offices. He said the Telegraph Of
flee would take it, but that they declined
making any arrangement in connection
with US. We asked him if he had been
to the Gazette office; he said mo, but
they told me at the other office that the Ia
zetts did not want it," urged upon him
that fairness required his visiting the Ca
ze,,e Office for himself which he promised
to do. He afterwards returned and stated
that Morgan and Mckinney had offered
fifty dollars for the exclusive right. and
that they would have it, unless we bid the
same sum. We expressed our astonish-
ment that he should take such res pcnsibi-
lily, after Offering il TO US for twenty dol
lars-that he might pursue his own course
in the matter-but that we should hold
him responsible.
He afterwards came in and stated tha,
not wishing to take the responsibility, he
had seen the Director, who authorised him
10 say that we could have ii for twenty
dollars, otherwise he would give the ex.
elusive right 10 the Telegraph Office for
fifty dollars. Our reply was, that as we
were stockholders and wanted the concern
to make something, he might tell the Di.
rector that we were willing to give up the
exclusive right to the Telegraph office, il
it would pay the fifty dollars. He shortly
after returned aud presented us with
note, Of which the following is copy
"Messrs Edwards and Broadwell,
Do you want the Message at $50
If not, Morgan and McKenney get the
exclusive right at $50.
JOHN G. FOOTE, Director"
The above are the facts in the case. We
now proceed TO make few remarks.
We saw from the outset that there was
combination against the Hawk-Eye. and
that If we obtained the Message at all,
according 10 the terms, we should have to
pay more than either Of the other Offices
for it. All the existing and subsequent
circumstances showed us that both were
in partnership in the matter. If we had
taken j, al twenty dollars, they would on
iy have had TO pay ten dollars each. When
the proposition to pay fifty dollars for the
exclusive right was made, we assented to
il in good faith, believing tina. the compa.
ny would be the gamer.
After our assen, h id been obtained to
this arrangement, any one may Imagine
our surprise at receiving the note from the
Director, with The falling off from $40, TO
$50. We saw that even then, both the
other Offices would secure it II, Sis each,
and we were not disposed 10 have any
thing more 10 do with such an unequal
combination. We therefore took another
course.
After being assured by the operator,
that The line Vas in connection with ST
Louis and tina, he could send message
Immediately TO tina, place, we wrote dis
patch 10 the editors Of the Missouri Re-
publican, asking them TO send US twelve
hundrsd messages by the evening packet,
with orders TO have them expressed to us
from keokuk. This was about one o.
clock Oh Wednesday, and il il had been
sent and complied wi,h,we knew we could
get the message on Friday morning. On
sending to the relegraphery a, 8 o'clock,
We sscer,ained that our dispatch had not
been sent and could not be, as they were
then receiving the Presidents message.
We had no remedy, under such circum-
stances, and at once determined to wait
until we could receive correct copy aud
lay il before our readers in our regular
edition, which we have done.
We have no apologies to make in rela.
ton to our seeming lack of enterprise on
this occasion. II Is the first time we have
been behind our competitors. II they had
dealt with us fairly, we should no, have
bee, SO at this time. As it is, we feel
perfectly justified in the course we have
pursued, We have our thoughts and our
reasons, which are satisfactory to us, in
reference to the motives Of oil those en-.
gagged in thu. heading Us, but we do not
think It polite 10 state them at present. II
Is not the first time we have been made
TO suffer Inconvenience from the same no.
tent cause. Those engaged in it may un.
ders,and us; and if similar apnoyances are
persisted in from the same quarter, The
public shall also be made to understand il,
in all its details.
The pre'iding officer Of each House in the Gene
raj Assembly is from Burlington. The northern de-
nocracy owed this to Burlington, in consequence
d former favors shown to the North in the State
Ind Congressional Conventions. Aside from this.
We think they will make competent officers.
FAIRFIELD LEDoER.-This is the title OF large
Ind handsomely printed paper, the first number Of