The Portland daily press., 1876-12-16
THE PROPER THING.
President Orion Declines 10 Allow the
Delivery of Dispatches to the Louisiana
Committee.

New YORK, Dec Is.
Executive office, Western Union Telegraph
Company, New York, Dec. Is, 1876.
Hon. VIM. r. MORRISON,
Chairman. New Orleans, La
Sir-Subp@nas have been served upon sew
eral employees of this company directing them
to produce before the congressional committee
OF which you are chairman, all messages in the
possession of the company, sent or received by
the persons named in the subp9nas during saw
eral months of the present year. have delay
ed reply to these demands in the expectation
that similar applications would be made by the
COMMITTEES OF the Senate also charged with the
Investigation OF matters connected with the
Presidential election and canvass in several
States, SO that the action of the company being
the same in respect to the messages of both
political parties could not be attributed to q
desire to prejudice, or promote the interests of
either. No subpenas have yet been served
upon US by order of the Senate committee and
as further delay might appear to be discour-
tesy to yourself and your committee it does not
seem proper to further postpone this answer.
The subpnnas was served before the investiga-
ton which the committee had been directed to
make was begun, and before the evidence had
been presented to the committee, either that
the persons named in the subpenas had sent
any messages whatever, or that any messages
sent by them related to the subject in the mat
ter OF investigation.
1t appears to have been assumed that persons
holding high official positions under the federal
and state governments, and others prominent
in public affairs were in the habit of sending
messages by telegraph, and without ATTEMPTING
to ascertain if any of these messages were ma
terIal to the investigation, the officers and
agents of this company have been commanded
to lay aside the business in which they are en-
gagged to become spies and detectives upon. and
lniormers against, the customers who have re-
posed in us the greatest confidence concerning
both their official and their private affairs, /
have never believed that the Congress of the
United States, with this subject fairly before
them, would permit committees to violate the
secrecy of the telegraph in this manner and it
seems to me that the present is an opportunity
IN which 1t would be unwse to forego for OBJ
tanning decision derectly from the representa-
tives of the people. If the messages OF persons
connected with one political party are spread
before the public like course will be taken in
respect to those of the other party. Both par
ties therefore have the same interest in publish
ing to the world the secrets of the telegraph
offices, or of presenting such publicity. 1t has,
therefore, been decided to decline very respect
fully to permit the employees of this company to
produce before any committee of either House
Oh congress, messages sent or received by the
representatives of either the Democratic or the
I,ePupncan party, at least, until after Congress
snail nave approved the subp9nas of the COM
mlttees and directed that their demands be en-
forced. w va
am, with great respect etc., etc.
VIM ORION, President.
The following reply has been sent:
New ORLEANS, Dec Is.
VIM. Orion, President of the Western Union
Telegraph Co, New York.
have nothing to do with your motives for
refusing to obey the process of the House of
Representatives. My duty will be performed
by invoking its aid in the enforcement of such
process. Regretting your refusal Of informa-
ton necessary to obtain the whole truth as to
the Louisiana election,
am, yours respectfully,
VIM. r. MORRISON.
Judge Caleb Baldwin, member of the Ala
bama claims court died yesterday.