Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-02
The Early Struggles of Prof. M orse.

Nathan Sergeant we'll known Washington
correspondent who has Mt different times held
ponsible posts in tho Government. publishes an
interesting letter in the Baltimore P,tro. in rela-
ton to the early struggles of Prof Morse in con
graph. Tho letter follows:
In a recent speech made by Ex-Presilent Fill
more ut Niagara Falls, on the occasion of the in
terchangc OF messages between tho Queen OF Eng
land and the President of the United States, he
alluded to the fact that he was chairman OF tho
Committee Ways and Mcans) of the House of
Representatives which reportel in favor of max
ing an appropriation Of $40. 900, to enable Mr..
Morse. the discoverer of the Magnetic Telegraph.
~ establish an experimental line from Washing
ton to Baltimore; and he also spoke Of the OPPOSE
ton that was raised to this appropriation in the
House. and the derlson that attempted to be
cast upon Mr. Morse's discovery. Gov. Wallace,
of Indiana has also spoken Of tho fact that siren
uous opposition made 10 this measure in the
Committee, every Democrat upon il voting against
it, and that it carried in the Committee
by his vote, there being only one majority for it,
During that session Mr.. Morse had established
temporary line Of his telegraph between two
committee rooms, one at the extreme east end of
the Capitol and the other at the extreme west end
for the purpose of showing members of Congress
and others it's operation, and that by its means peo
pie situated at distance from each other could
hold conversational rapidly interchange thoughts
Members, and hundreds of others saw it in opera
ton and held conversations with their friends they
being thus separated.
But notwithstanding this practical dcmonstra-
ton Of the possibility Of conveying thoughts along
the wires to distant point. such was the incredu-
lily in regard to ts being Of any practical that
when the bill which contained the appropriation
asked Tor came up in committee of the whole there
was perfect storm of opposition and derision
raised against 1t. and every parliamentary effort
and strategy were resorted to. to defeat the ap-
propriation: all sorts Of ridiculous amendments
were offered, such as making an appropriation to
build railroad to the moon. and every magi-
nable jeer, sneer. jest and sarcasm were hurled
at it. Among the most prominent in opposing
and ridiculing the proposed telegraph, were Mr..
! Cave johnson, aftcrward. Post Master General,
! Edmund Burke, Commissioner of Patents under
Mr.. Polk aud Mr.. Houston, Of Alabama, who
were undoubtedly hsnest in their opposition but
| lacked faith.
While the appropriation was under considera-
ton in the Committee II the Whole and this war
OF ridicule was being made upon his discovery,
Mr. Morse was present leaning upon the bar Of
the House, intensely excited. As he stood there
came up to him and remarked that he seemed to
be very much excited. He turned towards me
and placed his hand upon his forehead, said that
| he had an awful headache. replied that it was
in consequence of his being so excited that he must
endeavor TO Do calm; that this ridicule which was
being cast upon him and his telegraph would not
amount to anything. and that he must endeavor tc
take it patiently, as other discoverers had been ri
diculed before him. and had afterwards been i'm
mortalised.
He replied that he had reason to feel anxious
that he had spent seven years in perfecting hi.
telegraph, and had expended all he had in tn,
world in doing it, that he had large family
and not money enough to pay his hotel bill
That Il the appropriation was made, he shoule
realise ill he had been 50 long laboring for
} but II It were defeated, he was ruined man
A. nov known. the appropriation was mad
mainly through the efforts Of Mr.. Fillmore, tn
Chairman Of the Committee of Ways and Means
sntitled'to, both fame and fortune