Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-07
AN INTERESTING FACT.
Drawn Out by Mr.. Clark's RecOlle'
tiOns of Fifty Years Ago.

Drawn Out by Mr.. Clark's RecOllec-
tions of Fifty Years Ago.
Editor Morning Ne1cs: Mr.. Clark, in his
"reminiscences of Georgia lawyers and
members of Congress of about a half Gen.
fury ago, was probably not aware of one
fact that should be recorded to the honor
of the State, through the conduct Of her
Representatives in Congress, viz:
When Professor Morse was applying to
Congress for an appropriation to enable
him to test his electric telegraph, my
lather-then a member under the general
ticket system { the alteration Of which ]
must think had much to do with orIginat-
ing the present state of corruption in poll
tics wrote me to this effect: "YouT
friend Morse is applying for Congressional
aid to the amount of $50, 900 to enable him
to test his new system of electric teleg-
raphy. He is very much ridiculed as a
schemer, and visionary, and there are
propositions before Congress, in burlesque
of his application, to appropriate like
sum to investigate the subject of nleSnleT-
ism. The Georgia delegation are
at least divided, and hesitate,
more in kindness to me than
from belief in the practicability of the
scheme. They are noble set of men, and
consider themselves guardians of the pub
lie treasury, and though they have the
best feelings towards so respectable a
man as your friend seems to be, are I'M
willing, as trustees, to appropriate one
dollar for any scheme of doubtful value.
They want more knowledge of the man.
What have you to say on the subject?"
My reply was substantially to this eff
feet, viz:
"From my intimate intercourse with
Prof Moroa civ in frtri rcr
times, as close as roOm-mates could be,
and more so than most fathers and sons,
do not hesitate to say that 5. f. b. Morse
is philosopher, man Of science and an
inventor of great ability, and that any
thing that he advances is well worthy of
the attention and support Of the Georgia
delegation"
AS the bill apprOpriating the money
asked received the support Of the whole
Georgia delegation, and the majority was
only three-lt recOllect aright-the credit
of the passage of the act which resulted
in the success of the electric telegraph is
due to the Georgia delegation.
If it were not for the appearance of ego
tism unaVoidably attached to the effort,
could amuse and, perhaps, instruct much,
by narration Of the social, moral, politi-
cal and educational views Of Georgians
fifty years ago, when, with paint brush in
hand, tramped the State to study its peo-
pie and geology.
Men were sinners then as now, but they
had the grace to hide their alterations
better.
/ have often thought of writing a novel
of Southern life, but my experiences were
SO much more strange and improbable
than any reasonable events / could invent,
that l gave it up, because it would re-
quire a picture of men and things not
hattering to some Of the dead, even when
public corruption had not reached its
present state of putridity, and many are
still living who would be hurt at rec0g-
nizing their own progenitOrs, while ex-
amples Of patriotism, self-sacrifice and
devotion might pass for weakness in a
world which seems now more than ever
''to honor those who do good unto-thenl-
selUes." X. W. II.