The Longest Morse Code Message EVER, Established Nevada As A State
Final transcribed page, with cost
The Longest Morse Code Message Ever, Established Nevada As A State
It was October 1864. The Civil War was winding down and Abraham Lincoln was facing re-election. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was looming on the horizon.
Lincolns stay in the White House is being seriously threatened by the candidacies of General John Freemont, a Republican and General George McClellan, a Democrat.
The Republican party was still in it's infancy. Lincoln needed the votes from new states to ensure that he would remain in office and be able to enact his reconstruction polices for the South.
Earlier, gold and silver had been discovered on the Comstock in Virginia City. In 1861 the United States was eager to make sure this wealth did not find it's way into the coffers of the Confederacy. They lost no time in forging Nevada into a new federal territory away from the Utah Territory. Lincoln appointed James Warren Nye, a police commissioner from New York and a newly converted Republican, to be the Territorial Governor. Nye, nicknamed, "Old Grey Eagle" made sure the new territory government was well organized. An avowed supporter of civil rights, he also stamped out any attempts to become a part of the Confederacy.
With the help of Nevada votes Lincoln could win the election and Nevada could help to ratify the 13th Amendment and abolish slavery.
Having only 40,000 residents Nevada fell far short of the 60,000 people usually needed to become a state. But Lincoln needed new states and as election time drew near, three territories were tapped to become states: Nevada, Colorado, and Nebraska.
Nebraska voted against statehood and Colorado failed to pass a constitution. In Nevada things were different, the vote for statehood was 8 to 1. Nevada was heavily Republican, the votes from Nevada could ensure Lincoln a victory.
Nevada sent certified copies of their proposed Constitution overland to Congress for approval. By October 24, they had not arrived. With only days to go Nevada needed it's newly passed Constitution to arrive in Washington in order to be admitted to the Union.
Governor Nye decided to send the entire 16,543 word text of the proposed Nevada State Constitution by Morse code, via telegraph, to Washington.
On October 23, 1864 in Carson City, telegrapher James H. Guild, labored for seven hours over his key, pounding brass, until the entire 175 page document was transmitted to Salt Lake City, to be relayed to Chicago, Philadelphia, and on to the War Department in Washington, DC. Guild's work netted his company $4,303.27 in fees, roughly $60,000 in todays money.
The 1864 transmission remains to this day as the longest Morse Code message ever sent. On October 31st, just eight days after Guild's record setting message, the United States Congress admitted Nevada to the Union.
In a twist of fate, John Freemont withdrew from the Presidential race and Lincoln won easily. The votes from Nevada were not needed. Nevada also almost missed it's opportunity to ratify the 13th Amendment, when both of her Senator's failed to arrive in Washington in time to cast their votes. Congressman Henry C. Worthingham cast the lone vote from Nevada and on January 31, 1865 slavery ended in the United States.
It was October 1864. The Civil War was winding down and Abraham Lincoln was facing re-election. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was looming on the horizon.
Lincolns stay in the White House is being seriously threatened by the candidacies of General John Freemont, a Republican and General George McClellan, a Democrat.
The Republican party was still in it's infancy. Lincoln needed the votes from new states to ensure that he would remain in office and be able to enact his reconstruction polices for the South.
Earlier, gold and silver had been discovered on the Comstock in Virginia City. In 1861 the United States was eager to make sure this wealth did not find it's way into the coffers of the Confederacy. They lost no time in forging Nevada into a new federal territory away from the Utah Territory. Lincoln appointed James Warren Nye, a police commissioner from New York and a newly converted Republican, to be the Territorial Governor. Nye, nicknamed, "Old Grey Eagle" made sure the new territory government was well organized. An avowed supporter of civil rights, he also stamped out any attempts to become a part of the Confederacy.
With the help of Nevada votes Lincoln could win the election and Nevada could help to ratify the 13th Amendment and abolish slavery.
Having only 40,000 residents Nevada fell far short of the 60,000 people usually needed to become a state. But Lincoln needed new states and as election time drew near, three territories were tapped to become states: Nevada, Colorado, and Nebraska.
Nebraska voted against statehood and Colorado failed to pass a constitution. In Nevada things were different, the vote for statehood was 8 to 1. Nevada was heavily Republican, the votes from Nevada could ensure Lincoln a victory.
Nevada sent certified copies of their proposed Constitution overland to Congress for approval. By October 24, they had not arrived. With only days to go Nevada needed it's newly passed Constitution to arrive in Washington in order to be admitted to the Union.
Governor Nye decided to send the entire 16,543 word text of the proposed Nevada State Constitution by Morse code, via telegraph, to Washington.
On October 23, 1864 in Carson City, telegrapher James H. Guild, labored for seven hours over his key, pounding brass, until the entire 175 page document was transmitted to Salt Lake City, to be relayed to Chicago, Philadelphia, and on to the War Department in Washington, DC. Guild's work netted his company $4,303.27 in fees, roughly $60,000 in todays money.
The 1864 transmission remains to this day as the longest Morse Code message ever sent. On October 31st, just eight days after Guild's record setting message, the United States Congress admitted Nevada to the Union.
In a twist of fate, John Freemont withdrew from the Presidential race and Lincoln won easily. The votes from Nevada were not needed. Nevada also almost missed it's opportunity to ratify the 13th Amendment, when both of her Senator's failed to arrive in Washington in time to cast their votes. Congressman Henry C. Worthingham cast the lone vote from Nevada and on January 31, 1865 slavery ended in the United States.
