Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-09-13
w READING 11A1zEa ON Every PACE

AMERICAN GENlUS.-American genius never
achieved SO signal and glorious victory as in
the successful laying of the Atlantic Telegraph
Cable. The spasm of joy which fairly convulsed
the nation has somewhat abated and men can
now speak with reason on the subject of the
great achievement After considering it seri-
ously, we must come to the conclusion that a
feat has been accomplished, which, of all the
other of human ingenuity and skill, in the
worlds whole history, is the grandest and most
wonderful. The seven wonders of ancient
times, and all the remarkable accomplishments
of modern days, have been outstripped and over
topped by this, the greatest marvel of all. And,
though the great enterprise owes much for its
completion to British energy, still the United
States may justly claim the greater share Of
honor It was an American mind which first
conceived the idea that electricity lisa governa-
BILE agent of man. Frauklin's genius may be
looked upon as the first fountain of the enter
prise Morse, another American, first perfected
Franklin's idea, by making the electric fluid the
uscfulnedium Of correspondence. 1t has agrin
been the peculiar honor of Americans to see
American genius first in projecting aad chiefest
in carrying into success this stupendous accom-
plishment of joining England and America in
momentary communication.
The first regular movement towards the great
result was private meeting at the house of one
of their number, by the following gentlemen:
Cyrus W. Field, Moses Taylor, Peter Cooper.
Marshal o. Roberts and Chandler White. Here
it was determined to make the attempt, and
subscription of ten thousand dollars was made
by each. A committee, consisting oftwo of the
gentlemen named, and d. D. Field, then went
to New Foundland, and succeeded in obtaining
from the Legislature of that province charter.
Mr.. Cyrus w. Field, sometime after this, depart
ed for England, where, by his efforts, he obtain.
ed sufficient subscription, and the company
was at once incorporated by Parliament Mr..
Fields subsequent efforts in behalf of the en-
terprise are too well known to be repeated
Thus it will be seen that to Americans, prin-
cipally, is the honor of the undertaking due.
In the Atlantic Telegraph there is monu-
ment to American scientific skill, American en-.
terprise and perseverance, and American liber-
atty, TINT will be lnsting MS time, and which
already strikes the world with surprise and adj
miration. To American mechanical genius, too,
it is u browning triumph. Until the invention
of William o. Everett rendered it practical
thing, the gigantic task of laying the monster
cable was almost despaired of. Disappoint-
ments had already rendered the most sanguine
apprehensive, and thousands had pronounced
the project failure. English ingenuity had
been put to the test, but in vain Must all,
then, belost? Must the glorious adventure be
abandoned? Must the hopes of all be nipped
in the bud2 and England and America, both
eager for the happy nuptial, still remain, like
disappointed lovers, severed and apart2 It
seemed so, indeed until the mechanical genius
of a son Of America showed all these fears to
be vain Eternal old Neptune himself with his
storms and his waves-the dread opposers
before whom feeble men might well be appalled,
was made to submit, US when it was said,
"Peace be still" The great work was accom-
plished, the hopes of the world were verified,
and two distant hemispheres were brought into
intellectual unity.
With such accomplishments before tho world,
may not America be truly proud of her genius!
1t has accomplished one of the greatest victories
ever won. No long line of triumphal chariots,
filled with the spolls of vanqnished enemies,
mark this victory, but the spontaneous, heart
felt joy of an enlightened world No new en-
CINE more dreadful than ever in working the
havoc of war is the result, but tho mightiest
engine of peace and good will amongst the ma,
tions and men of two worlds, is the consumma-
ton over which we rejoice. When christianity
and civilization shall have shed this benignant
influence over the whole world, and the milleni-
UNI day is at hand. men will look back upon
the genius of Franklin, the science of Morse, the
enterprise of Field, the skill of Everett as in :
Etrumcnts in working out the glorious result
They will be honored in time long hereafter,
more hannllchieCtains or warriors-saye Wash.
ington. In the greatest accomplishment of the
world, America stands now fairly Foremost
Though the Cable belongs justly to England
both termini being upon her soil, still she owes
1T to America, and must yield US the honor that
is due. If great material or moral advantages
result from the successful enterprise-and we
believe that both will result-we will not only
be the equal sharer in these, but the equal Cat
leasO sharer of the honors.
RIor AxoSo the ColoRED PoPuLAr1oS IN DE-.
qRo1T-A riot, which came near resulting in