The New York herald., 1876-12-16
INvIoLABILITY OF THE TELEGRAPH.

REFUSAL OF THE WESTERN UNION TELKGRAPH
COMPANY TO PRODUCE MESSAGES or ROLL
TICIANs IN OBEDIENCE TO THE CONGRESS
sIoSAL COMMITTEES sUBrGSA.
Mr.. Orton, President, on behalf OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company, yesterday despatched 10
Mr.. Morrison, Chairman Of tho House investigating
committee into the connected with election
in Louisiana, Ut New Orleans positive refusal to al
low messages intrusted to that company tor trans
misson TO DO submitted 10 tho inspection Of the
mittce. HIS message follows:--
EXECUTIVE OrycR
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY
NEW YORK, Dec To- 1876
Hon. wILLIAx Il. MORRISON, Chairman, &c.. New
sR-subpenacs nave been served upon several ON.
poyes of this company, directing them to produce
before the Cong ngress0nal Committee OF which you
chairman, all messages in possession Of the company
sent and received by the persons named in the sub
pGnaes during several months OF tho present year.
have delayed reply 70 these demands In tho cxpecta-
tion that similar applications would be made by a
committee OF tho Senate, also charged with tho IN
vestcation OF matters connected with the Presidential
election and canvass in several States, SO tnat the
TO the messages Of both political parties could not be-
attributed TO desire 10 prejudice or promote tho
tcrests Of either NO subpGnnes have yet been served
upon by order OF the Senate COMMITTED and
ther delay night appear 10 be discoortcsy to your
self and your comntee, Il docs not seem proper TO
further postpone this answer Tho snbpenacs were
served before the investigation which the committee
had been directed to make begun aud before owl
dcnce had been presented to the committee, either
that the persons named In the subpeDaes had sent
any messages whatever, or that my
sagcs sent by them related the subject
matter OF tho investigation. II appears 10 have
boon assumed that PERSONS holding high official post
tho federal and State governments, and
others prominent IN public affairs, In the habit Of
sending messages by teiegraph and without attempt
ing 10 ascertain II any Of these messages
tcriai to tho investigator the officers and agents OF
this company have been commanded to lay aside tho
business In which they engaged-t0 become spies
and detectives upon and formers against, the
toners who have rcposed the gravest condolences
concerning both their Official and their private affairs
believed that the Congress OF the United
States with this subject fairly before them. would
permit committees to violate the secrecy Of the tele
graph In this manner. And IL seems to that the
present Is opportunity which Il would be unwisc
forceo for obtaining decision directly from the rep
rcscntatves OF the people. If tho messages of per-
connected with ono political party arc spread
before the public like will be taken respect
those OF tho other party. Both parties. therefore,
have the interest In publishing to tho world tho
secrets OF the Telegraph offices OF preventing such
publicity.
IL has, therefore, been decided TO Decline very re-
spoctiully 10 permit tho employees Of this company
produce before any committee OF either House OF
Congress messages received by the
tives OF other the democratic the republican party
least until alter Congress shall have approved tho
subpGnaos OF the and directed that their
mands bo enforced
am, with great respect, &C., &c,
WILLIAM ORION, President