Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals - In Two Volumes, Volume II by Samuel F. B. (Samuel Finley Breese) Morse
page 227 of 596 (38%)
page 227 of 596 (38%)
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received such an advertisement as could not fail to please the most
exacting. Then a scene was enacted new in the annals of civilization. In Baltimore the committee of conference surrounded Vail at his instrument, and in Washington Senator Wright sat beside Morse, all others being excluded. The committee urged Wright to accept the nomination, giving him good reasons for doing so. He replied, giving as good reasons for refusing. This first long-distance conversation was carried on until the committee was finally convinced that Wright was determined to refuse, and they so reported to the convention. Mr. Dallas was then nominated, and in November of that year Polk and Dallas were elected. On June 3, Morse made his report to the Honorable McClintock Young, who was then Secretary of the Treasury _ad interim_. It was with great satisfaction that he was able to say: "Of the appropriation made there will remain in the Treasury, after the settlement of outstanding accounts, about $3500, which may be needed for contingent liabilities and for sustaining the line already constructed, until provision by law shall be made for such an organization of a telegraphic department or bureau as shall enable the Telegraph at least to support itself, if not to become a profitable source of revenue to the Government." In the course of this report mention is also made of the following interesting incidents:-- "In regard to the _utility_ of the Telegraph, time alone can determine and develop the whole capacity for good of so perfect a system. In the few days of its infancy it has already casually shown its usefulness in the relief, in various ways, of the anxieties of thousands; and, when |
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