Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-22
The Iouisian ma roa=res-ionai Committee
and the W. L. Telegraph 20.
SHALL THE SECRETS CONFIDED 70 tbs CON
P.SY RE MADE PrBLiC?

SHALL TIE SECRETS CO>FIDED 70 IIE COM
PANY BE MADE PrBLiC?
NEw YoRK, Dec. l5.-The following com
muuIcation will explain itself
Executive Office " esrern Union Telegraph
Company. New York, Dee. Is. 1876 Hon.
Wm. f. Morrison. chairman, etc, New Or
leans. La. Sir: Snbpoenas have been serv-
cd unon several employees OF this company,
directing them to produce before the con
gre~sional committee, ot which you arc
chairman, all messages in possession OF the
company sent and received by the persons
named in the subpOenas during several
months of the present year. have deiAyed
a reply 10 these demands III the expesia-
tion that similar applications would 10
made BY committee OF the Senate, ALL
charged with the Investigation oil matters
connected with the presidential eleetinn
and canvass in the several states, so That
the action Of the company, being the sane
in respect to messages OF both p0ilticti
pa,ties could not be attributed 10 a desire
To the prejudice or promote the Interests
of either No subpOsnas have Yet been
served upon us by order of the Senate CON
rittee. and as further deiay might appear
to be a discOurte>y to yourself anu your
committee, il does not seem proper 10
further postpone this answer The sub
peuas we're served bcfDr0 the investigation
which the committee had been directed 10
make was begun and before evidence had
been presented to the Committee either
that the persons named IN the -upteaa|
had sent any messages. Whatever. or tait
any messages sent By them r'itt'd
to the subject matter OF the inVcStlsil'"-
Ii appears TO have been assumed i""' per
SONS hold ny high official positions aHs'f
rp -
- rron;nent in public sf.Irs. we're IN fhe
hah,t of sending messages ny teIsSfH"i
| "a vitbout attempting u ASCERTAIN il -!y
| AZ these messages we're mAterial . tla n
ycs,,oatiou, the officer ani agents 81 fhi$
counfy have been commanded u lay aside
The business IN which they are engaged, To
become spies and detectives upon sud IN
formers against the customers " vhp have re-
posed in us the greatest conf isnca eOn-
cerpinR both their official and their privita
affairs. | have mover believed that the Con-
gress Of the United States, with tins suhj,cs
fairly before them, would permit It, colnniit-
tee to violate the secre-y OF the telegraph IA
this manner and il seems TO Ine that the pres
ens is an opportunity which is would bs Uu- =
wise to torego, for obtaining a decision
directly from this representatives of the
people. If the messages of persons con-
nected with one political party are spread
before the public, like course will
will be taken in repect TO those Of the other
party. Both parties therefore have the
same interest in publishing to the world
the secrets Of the telegraph Offices. or Of
preventing such publicity. IL has therefore
been decided to decline very respectfully to
permit the EMPLOYEES of tins compsny
to produce before any committee Of either
House Of Congress tue messages sen. or re-
ceived by the Representatives of either the
denoefatie or the republican party. at least
until after congress shall have approved
the subpenss Of the committees ard decided
that their demands be enforced I am wish
great rsspsot. etc.. etc. William Orion.
pfsaidsnt.