Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-24

this State and city singles you out as
the person proper to be addressed
touching the very important question
OF the postal telegraph, which was
suddenly sprung upon the country by
Mr.. Elihu B. Washburne, Of Illinois,
at the last session Of Congress. As
builder, operator, proprietor, manager
and superintendent, your experience
runs ever a terrn of twenty years in
Tennessee, and Of nearly that period
in our city. You have enjoyed the
uninterrupted confidence Of our busi-
ness community during that time.
During much the larger portion Of
these two decades, in which such
mighty convulsions have shaken our
continent. it has been nay good fortune
to be associated with you intimately,
both in your professional capacity and
in the more agreeable relations of
friendly and private intercourse. l
have ever seen you at the pOs5.of du-
ty, and if during that disastrpRsan
trying four years ofcivil war, you, for
a time, ceased to guide the lightning
in the channels of intelligence,
it was only that you might
be seen following the lead
of the South's most distinguished son,
John G Breckinridge, when the in
spirations of duty and of patriotism
prompted you to manipulate thun-
ders more destructive than those you
had welded 50 long and ssiifully.
Intimately associated with the tele-
graph-with its objects, its destiny
and its history-is the press. Though
not of c9BteAp0raReous origin, the
one heing but in its infancy, though
grown to be a gigantic power, and the
other claiming a history If several
centuries, these great estates are, in
their nature, their mission, and their
influence, welded together by the
strongest bonds that can unite two
separate and distinct interests. They
have a common object in that they are
equally employed in the circulation,
distribution ana transmission of in
telllgence, truth and knowledge over
all the civilized portions of the world.
The methods are different. But each
is equally necessary to the dissemina-
ton of current intelligence. The tele-
graph reports the transactiQ,s Of the
day, the hour 81 the moment, and
transmits it in an instant of time from
one continent to another, from king
dom to kingdom, from state to State,
and from city TO city, while the press,
through its million mouths, circulates
it widely to every door, to every ham,
let, to every rural neighborhoOd and
to every inmate Of every A0me,
Thus you way easily perceive
thai the telegraph without the
press would be shorn Of Is
highest capacity to .1.fosm the in
quiring Ginl.s of our progressive age /;
and that the press, without the tele-
graph, would be deprived Of ;Rs vital
function of enliSAteGibg is Hlillion
readers regarding the transactions -
the. day throughout the 49, - =
to Tie ia 49, S.''z' .s was previously
..s,.-- LION of the telegraph, q
.~.e local chronicler and retailer Of
news a week, a month, or a half year
| old. In the one case the press would
be deprived of its highest attribute
the capacity to speak with certainty
| for the various nations, States, cities
| and corporations touching the events
of the same day or the previous day
In the other case the telegraph would
lose its right arm, and chief interpre
ter to the various peoples Of the earth
| If a revolution were to break out II
London, Paris, Madrid, Vienna o.
Berlin to-day, the intelligence, witt
every material detail, would be quiet
ly introduced into every reading man.
chamber before he rises from his bee
tomorrow morning through the in
strumentality of these cooperative
and wonderful workers, who ply thei
extraordinary industries while tn
masses are at rest. If the Presiden
of the United States dies or IS i'm
peached, the fsct is known Throughout
| the length and breadth of the lan'
before the cup of coffee is ready t
stimulate theenergies and awaken tn
sympathies of the late Sleepers.
We are not apt to appreciate the pc
tency and value of these great nurse
ries of intelligence, because Of thei
very commonneSs and cheapneSS
They are like the atmosphere tha
surrounds us, necessary to vitality
but because they are so UNIVERSAL,
dispensed, we cease to attach specia
Importance to them. They are lik
the sunlight. which pervades al
space, and is only shut out by thos
who glove darkness rather thai
light" Hence we do not appreciat
the situation of those who are no
permitted to enjoy the same blessing.
A free press is Indispensable to libel
tv. Without it a republic would b
but a name. A destruction of II
freedom would be like permanen
| eclipse of the sun, or like poisonin
the pure atmosphere of heaven wit
noxious gases. The trainers of on
Constitutions, both State and Fedora
: provided stronger and more efectus
| safeguards for the continuance of il
, freedom, than for any other object.
was Justly deemed by them as the la:
and most secure intrenchment of th
spirit of freedom. Despotic pOw6
and military oppression might FORTH
themselves legislative halls, migf
overawe the Courts, might intimidat
! the people, but a bold, free pre-
could, and would, even then, arouS
resistance and save the State. Sue
: was the wise calculation of our ance
: tors, and they were right in this,
7 they erred in some other cases.
This principle is well understood
the rulers of mankind, by despot
+. and kings. Louis Napoleon manipl
8 lates the press of France, as he con
!, mands his armies and governs his p
4 lice. OF the two, the press, thus M
o nipulated, is the more useful to hin
: and the more effective for his pu
I. poses. 1t would also be more fornnl'
able to him, if free and untrammele
:. than an army in revolt. Napolee
y also has absolute control of the tel
y graph of France. How complete
70 the subiugation of a people thus ma
Ie acIed by the Government, with ham
sr tied. their eyes bandaged, their ca
s. stopped and their voice stitied. Is
IS not wise for the people of the Unit
q States to inquire, before it is too lat
- whether the movement made by N
a. Washburne for Government mono