Samuel F. B. Morse to Governor Sam Houston, 1860

Memucan Hunt, Texas Minister to the United States, recorded in his letterbook on March 1, 1838, that he had received an offer from Samuel F.B. Morse to give the Republic of Texas the rights to his telegraph.

On April 27, 1837, he forwarded Morse's original letter and a drawing of the telegraph as it existed at that time, recommending that they be filed in the "secret archives."

The offer apparently languished in the files thereafter. Finally, the inventor wrote to Governor Houston revoking the order in order to make over title to the United States.

Back to "Sam Houston"

Pokeepsie, August 9th 1860

May it please your Excellency;

In the year 1838 I made an offer of

gift of my invention of the Electro magnetic

Telegraph to Texas, Texas being then an

independent Republic. Although the offer

was made more than twenty years ago, Texas,

neither while an independent State, nor

since it has become one of the United States,

has ever directly or impliedly accepted the

offer. I am induced, therefore, to believe that in

its condition as a gift it was of no value to

the State, but on the contrary has rather been an

embarrassment. In connection, however, with

my other patent it has become for the public

interest as well as my own that I should be

able to make complete title to the whole inven-

tion in the United States.

I, therefore, now respectfully withdraw

the offer then made, in 1838, the better to be in a

position to benefit Texas, as well as the other

States of the Union.

To His Excellency

Sam'l Houston Governor of the State of Texas

I am with respect and

Sincere personal esteem

Yr Ob. Serv't

Sam'l F.B. Morse