The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-24

The NEWSPAPERS AND THE ELECTRIC TELE
eRAPH.-Some of the small bidding journals, IN
Boston and elsewhere, are publishing very Curl
Gus nespondence, by Fog Smith, as he Is face
tiously termed, in which he tells several long yarns
and queer stories relative to the recent coup d'etot
between the New York press and himself, affect
ing the transmission of news across the electric
lines between New York and Portland. MIR.
Smith is generally called Fog, to distinguish him
from the numerous family of Smiths, and certain
iy the is akin to the sense, for he endeavors
to create fog out of a small matter, much as he
did, formerly, in the politics in Milne, State par
tcularly subject to fogs.
The dispute between Mr.. Fog Smith and the
New York press is very simple thing. The New
York press employs their own agent, and Mr.. Fog
Smith wishes to control the agent OF the press
Accordingly, instead of meeting the real Issue in
the controversy, he flies off and makes long story
about pigeons and pigeoning, which he attributes
to the agent of the press, all his differences in the
matter being humbug and deception. The New
York press any other portion of the press, have
as much right, in the transmission of intelligence
rapidly, TO use pigeons, as they have to use steam
boats, electricity, horses, or fast trottlng ponies
Mr.. Craig, the agent of the New York press, had a
set Of pigeons, and he had much right to
those pigeons as he had to employ horses or to use
the telegraph. OF course, the New York press, or
their agent, or any other press, have right
pigeons, or horses or ponies, or electricity
Fog Smith himself, contrary TO the principles Of
honor and integrity, and have yet to learn that
any act has been done in violation of those prln-
cires.
Ii is very evident that Mr. Fog Smith has got
possession OF certain portions of the telegraph
lines, and wants To coniTol the rest and 10 dictate
TO The press whom they shall employ, and whom
they shall discharge, whether agents, pigeons,
ponies, steamboats,, or electricity. This purpose,
as il has been disclosed by Mr.. Fog Smith, may
produce very curious effect the growth Of
public opinion respecting the original patent rights
OF Mr.. Morse and we very sorry for this latter
genileman's connection with Fog Smith, in con-
sequence thereof. The electricity Of the Almighty
will be hencetorth considered by the community
us a tree and independent agent of communicating
mind TO mind, like that of water, or steam, or fire,
or any other element OF nature. We suspect,
therefore, that the legal contest, now before the
courts, IN which Mr.. Morse has a deep interest,
will be prejudiced very materially in the minds of
the community, and IN the minds OF the highest
judicial authorities, in consequence OF the impu-
dent, oveTbesnng, tyrannlcal, and abusive con-
duct OF Fog Smith towards the New York press,
and all the press South OF this metropolis.
more impairment absurdity than the attempt of
this man to dragoon the whole press, because one
of their agents employs a few pigeons, which
have been of no practical utility, is phenomenon
reserved for that perssnsge, and will make him
notorious, in connection with the history Of the
telegraph, Tor years come, in this republic