Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-08-21
Miscellaneous
HOW THE OCEANIC TELEGRAPH ORIG
MATED.

From the New York Herald.
While the public are rejoicing at the consunma
ton OF laying the Geographic cable, II IA q source
% j~usiifable pride and exuliation that this great
work is purely .! American origin. The Atlantic
Telegraph enterprise was born in tho dining room
Of Cyrus w. Field. GraEercy park, in the city OF
New York, one quiet evening in the early part OF
March, 1854 There were present Cyrus W
Field, his brother David Dudley Field, Samuel f..
Il. Morse, Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, Marshal
o. Roberts aud Chandler White. Maps were laid
upon the table, aud u general conversation enSued
upon the prlcticatiltty Ot the enterprise and the
best route. Tiey then and there formed an az.
ISOLATION for the purpose of establishing telegraph
10 communication between America aud Europe.
The most feasible mode Of accomplishing it was
thought to be by way of Newfoundland and it
was determined TO apply to the Legislature OF that
island for an act of Incorporation.
The two Fields and Mr.. White Immediately pro
ceeded to New Foundland, 10 lay the matter bo
fore the Legislature Vi that leland, aud 10 ask for
a charter aud other assistance. These three gem
tlemen arrived NJ St. JOHNS about the 20th day OF
March, lSj |, and At once called upon theGpvernor,
who convoked tho executive council tho same'day.
These gentlemen appeared before them, and David
Dudley Field made Rn elaborate and powerful nd
dress. The Governor promised them an answer III
the course of that lav. In an huur or two the
answer was given to them in writing, that he
would Immediately send in a special message to
the legislative assembly, then in session, recon-
n1enQlnR tneMl 10 pass an ACT VI lHcbTVOTdtlol,
with a guaranty Of the interest on the company's
bonds to the amount Of ESQ 0O0 and "a grant of IF,
tv square miles of land on tho island Of New
Foundland, 10 he selected by tho company.
These terms being agreed upon, Mr.. Cyrus W.
Field returned two days after to New York, 10 bit
out the steamer Victoria for the use of the Com
panv, and David Dudley Field and Chandler
White remained in New FuundIand six weeks, to
urge upon the Legislature the passage OF the char
ter and grants. Mr.. Fields cogent reasoning and
convincing arguments on the hoOr OF the Assem-
bly, finally accomplished the desired result. Dur
ing their soiourn upon the island hosnitalities and
attentions were showered upon Mr.. Field and MIR.
White in the most lavish manner, by the officials
and citizens Of the place, who looked upon them
as public benefactors. The charter was drawn by
David Dudley Field, and il was really owing to
his great legal ability end farreaching sagacity
that such advantages were therein secured as at
forwards enabled his brother, Cyrus w. Field. to
enlist the confidence and support Of English capi'
talists. Thus the happy conjunction IN these two
brothers-the comprehensive grasp OF mind OF the
one and untiring energy and perseverance OF the
other-haee at last brought about 1.-The consumma'
ton so devoutly to be wished"
The preamble OF the charter recites, that
''whereas it is deemed advisable to establish n line
OF telegraphic communication between America
and Europe, by way of New Foundland," DC.
therefore 'be it enacted" &c.
E.. NJ. Archibald, at present British Consul in
new 1OIAs was AiNh AhNhNiANf N'N N
Foundland, and took a warm interest in tho sub
ject.
We have before us n copy nf a New Foundland
paper, published in April, 1854. giving an account
Of a banquet held in st Johns. on the occasion OF
the passage of the above act. David Dudley Field
presided. and Chandler White acted as Vice Pres
ident. A great number of speeches were made,
and to show that the anticipations of that day
have been realized, we give an extract from the
speech Of the President:
David Dudley Field said-Ths time will come,
gentlemen. when The first question throughout
America will be. "wha' is the news this morning
from New Foundland ?"
On the return of Messrs Field and White to
New York, the 9TH day of May, 1854, the Conn
panv was organized under the name OF "The New
York, New Foundland aud London Telegraph
Company"
1t was under this act of Incorporation that the
line has been established from the eastern coast OF
Newfoundland to the Unified States, at the sole ex'
pense Of the gentlemen above named.
In order to induce English capitalists to contri-
butte to the undertaking, il was thought expedient
TO incorporate a new company in England tor the
purpose of establishing the submarine line be-
tween Newfoundland and Ireland; and MIR. Cyrus
W. Field went 10 England and succeeded IN or
ganizing that cumpany under rhe name OF Tine
Atlantic Telegraph Company" the two cnmpa.
MES birding themselves together by articles OF
agreement to operate in connection.
The public are familiar with the discourage
ments and difficulties that met Mr.. Field at every
step, but none can fully know the sore trials ne
experienced ard the Incredible efforts he made
Possessed of an iron will and the most indomita
bic energy, he has triumphed at last and when
our whole people bad dcsponded, and the univer'
sal press had cent forth a lamentation that the
great enterprise Of the nineteenth century had
failed, a telegraphic despatch thrilled through the
heart of the country
urr, N, =, srrcpssrrtYy IAN O-CyRuS w
FIELD.