Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-20

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| is but record of the ieers of the unbelievins,
and the persistent determination of the inven-
tor to make practical test Of the revolution
izer of the world So it has been with nearly
every discovery that has inaugurated new and
distinct era in the history Of the worlds pro-
gress. The inventor of the electro magnetic
telegraph found no exception to the general
rule, and at the recent Atlantic Gable glorifca-
ton in Indianapolis, Ex- Gov. Wallace gave the
following interesting account of the first Tele-
graph Bill in the House of Representatives Of
the United States Mr.. Wallace said
Some sixteen years ago had the honor Of a
seat in Congress as the Representative Of this
Drtrict The Wing party had just achieved a
great victory. They held possession Of the
Government Ia the midst Of the political
strife around Us two remarkable persons ap-
peared-Espy, the storm King and Morse,
the Electrician Each was asking for assis-
lance Each became the butt of ndicule, the
target of merciless arrows Of wit They We're
voted downright bOres, and the idea of giving
them money was pronounced farcical. They
were considered monomaniacs, and as such
we're laughed at, punneI upon, and aim Jst des-
pissed.
One morning entered the House Of Repre-
sentatives, and to NV astonishment saw gen
tleman rise from his seat, whom | had never
heard open his mOuth before, unless 1t was to
vote or address the Speaker. Il hold in my
hand, !" he said, "a resolution which respect
fully offer for the consideration Of the House"
In moment a page was at his desk, and
the resolution was transferred to the Speaker,
and by him delivered to the Clerk, who read
Resolved, That the Committee Of Ways and
Means be instructed 10 inquire into the expe
diency of apprOpriatiBg thirty thousand dollars
To enable Professor Morse 10 establish a line of
telegraph between Washington and Baltimore.
The gentleman who offered 1t was Mr.. Ferris,
one OF the Representatives from the city of New
York, man of wealth and learning, but mod
est. retiring and difident in his demeanor. It
being merely resolution of inquiry it passed
without opposition, and, out of regard TO the
mover without comment. In time it came 10
the Committee of Ways and Means, and when
in its order it came before the Committee, a
scene presented itself that / shall not soon for
Get The Committee was composed of five
Wings and four Democrats. The latter were
Mr.. Atherton of New Hampshire, Jno. W. Jones
of Va, Frank Pickens Of North Carolina, and
Dixon H. Lewis of Alabama On the Whig
side were Millard Fillmore Of New York, Jos
R. Ingersoll of Pa, Sampson Mason of Ohio,
Thos. F Marshall of Ky, and David Wallace
of Indiana,-all of whom, both Wings and
Democrats, excepting your humble servant, had
by their public services, and brilliant talents,
acquired a national reputation. The clerk of
the committee read the resolution. The chair
man, Mr. Fillmore, in clear, distinct voice.
said "Gentlemen, what disposition shall be
made oft" There was dead pause around
the table No one seemed inclined to take the
initiative confess that, inasmuch as the mover
of the resolution in the House was 4 Democrat.
| expected the Democratic side of the committee
to stand godfather TO it there. But not a bit
of it. They gave it no eountenance.
At length Mr.. Ingersoll, or Mr. Mason, can
not now reccollect which, broke the Ominous ST.
lence by moving that the committee instruct
the chairman TO report bill TO the House, ap-
prcpriating $50, 600 for the purpose named in
the resolution. This, as the saying is, " bro't
Us all up Standing" No speeches were made
The question was called for The ayes and
navs were taken, alphabetically, and TO my as
tonishment, / found every Democrat voting
No, Fillmore, Mason, lngersol and Marshall
voting in the affirmative. My vote would de- |
eide the question either way. To tell the truth |
I had paid no attention to the matter. Like /
the majority around me, l considered It great /
humbug. had not the faintcst idea of the i'm /
portanee of my vote But as fortune would /
have it, reccOIlected that Mr.. Morse was then /
experimenting in the Capitol with his telegraph |
He had stretched a wire from the basement /
story TO the ante room of the Senate Cham
Der, and it was in my power to satisfy my
self in regard to its feasibility. determined to
tryi L asked leave 10 consider my vote It
was granted. Immediately stepped out ofthe
committee room, and went tO the ante chamber.
found It crowded with Representatives and
strangers 1 requested permission to put
question 10 the " madman at the other end Of
.he wire It was granted Immediately
wrote the question, and handed it to the
elerrapher The crowd cried read read ~
In a very short time the answer was re-
,eiyed When written out the same cry Of
: read % read - came from the crowd
To nv utter astOnishment ] found that the
mailman at the other end Of the wire had more
Wit and force than the Congressman at this end.
de turned the laugh upon me completely But, {
IS you know, we Western men are never salts .
led with one fall, that never less than two out
# three can force from us an acknowledgment
f defeat So put 4 second question, and J
here came a second answer II the first raised +
laugh at my expense, the second converted
hat laugh into 3 roar and shout l was more
han satisfied. / picked cP my hat, bowed my
elf out Of the crowd, and as passed along tie
alls and passages of the Capitol, that shout 5
,llowed me As matter Of course | voted IN B
he affirmative Of the motion then pending be 4
,re the committee, and it prevailed. The !
Hartman reported the bill. The House, If !
listake not, passed It aen con, without asking a
ie yeas and nays. And thus cOncurring the a
Thig portion of that committee, and that old
-ew Yorker, played the part Of Isabella to- q
ard Mr. Morse in this his last struggle to de- h
lonstrate the practieabiity Of the most amazing h
lvention of the age, the Magnetic Telegraph .
{ the COMMITTEES had ignored the proposition +
,ere Is ua telling what would have been the !,
suit. That the experiment would have been \
nally made, no one can entertain doubt. But n
hen or by whom Is :he question 1t was not c
-ithin the range of individual fortune to make o
and if it was. none but Professor AofSe =
-oud have hazarled It Had he failed, Il might
ave shared the fate Of the Ocean Telegraph a
Though conceived years ago, as ! read in a I,
incinnati paper few DAYS since, by the editor !
the Commercial, and application was made to \
ongress for assistance, which was entirely 4
isregarded, Yet English sagacity seized with /,
7IdIty what American supIneness had neglect :,
Z, and tool, the initiative in this magnificent
lterprise, and plucked from American brows
le glory Of the achievement.
Parry demagogues in Indiana, among them !
I'M J. Brown, used the Telegraph vote Of \
ov. Wallace to his disadvantage, and succeed e
in making the people generally regard it !
ith utter contempt One old Shelby county I
mer urged the Governor 10 deny having b
tied for the telegraph; and a Jerry Johnson, a
show his contempt for the humbug, suggest !,
! that 1--WE would next hear Of the people
irving God Almighty's lightning across the I
,ean to split Europe into fragments" The {
ghtning has Travelled that way already. !
The appeal of Mr.. Field to Congress for cOun- :
- l =