The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-30
The Magnetic Telegraph.

PoueHKEAPsIE, August 20, 1852
JAMES G. BENNETT ESQ
Dear Sir-I ask small space for the purpose of cor
recting the of what call very ungenerous
paragraph which surprised your paper Of
this morning, headed '' A Warning to Congress-The
Magnetic Telegraph
Think cannot be accused Of troubling you often
this purpose, nor Of obtrudiDg myself ocousy before
the public though often tempted to the many
reiterated mstaements made in various publications de-
rimenta to my rights, both inventor and patentee
of the Recording Telegraph have been too long aware
of the position which my magnetic telegraph holds in
gard to the newspaper press not to know that neither
myself nor my invention, American invention has
much chance Of justice much less Of favor from tha
source, at preent-and this say in anger but in
row. 1t will not be denied that an invention bearing
less directly the pecunary interests of the newspaper
press however such invention might affect those Of other
classes not editors Of newspapers would meet with diff
ferent temper and be commented in less prejudced
Spirit and would find of these guardians of the ave-
nues to public opinion both willing and prompt from a
Of justice alone defend and its inventor from
the assaults Of those who would commit frauds on the
one and defame the other.
unfor upate in having given bizth to an invention
which while it is conessedy the source of great public
benefits, has been so managed it seems by of my
assjgnees, (if to believe tho accusations made
against them as iDjuriousy to affect the pecuniary in
terests of the newspaper If this has indeed been
the case, one sincerely regret it than my
self But is il just to visit upon the msmanagemen
Of others over whom have no control
Now what is the evident intention of the paragraph in
question! Undoubtedly to foresta any application
might, at future time make to Congress for extern
sion Of my patent; for have not applied to Congress
such a renewal, and else can apply. Why this
anxiety and haste TO prejudice Congress and the public
against my invention rather its management long
beforehand! Why warn" them? Why the threat,
take care Is it appeal to the selshness Of the
politician in that body warning him that he to
encounter the hostility Of the newspaper press if he
dares to show Justice Sir that paragraph does not
you JUSTICE it is not in accordance with your
right. know you personally too well to believe it. do
not beeNe you would have recourse to posi-
tive misrepresentation of facts when, had you been
pleased to have asked me- would have informed you of
the truth such an enactment" you say, would by
no means benefit the original inventor OF the telegraph
Professor Morse himself who has little interest
in the old PATENT SO far Is this from being true that
the contrary 1t is true that nearly all my dependence
Is my paients for 1t should be remembered that tho
profession Of my life sacrificed to the consummatng
Of my telegraph And you estimate the mere pscu-
nsIy value the public Of my teleeraphic invention in
dollars and cents Would 1t not amount to millions
Can money express its value in other respects And is
1t not just that should derive small per centage from
great capital thus used by the public, and at length
to be given to them Your own heart win this
| question right
| Although have not yet applied to Congress for
renewal Of my patents, / free to. say
that it is my intention thus to apply the legitimate
source when the proper time comes do fear the
result for shall rest the intrinsic justice of my
claims, when the mstiacaons and Misrepresentation OF
those who have defrauded me, and would still continue
to defraud whether II be any Of "the whole body OF
the people, any Of the newspaper pressn or any
the mbers Of both branches Of the national legsa.
turen who capable of being intimdated by threats
or won by brbes shall be cleared away and the true
scts Of the presented for the consideration Of those
who to act in the matter And r not read your
heart right If in this matter too have not your cor.
| dial aid. rather than your opposition.
But, one word more Hit true that my assignees
alone are to be benefited by renewal OF my patents
still feel myself much bound in honor to ask an ex
tension Of patents for their sake IL for
my Why not9 If they mismanage and abuse the
power conferred upon them by the law they are certainly
ameDable to some legal tribunal at least able eectu
ally to restrain the abuse while 1t permits the use
any other abuse of power trust
With respect, sir, your much obdt servt
SAMUEL u. d. MORSE