Daguerre had never attempted to photograph living objects and did not think it could be done, as rigidity of position was required for a long exposure.
Morse, however, and his associate, John W.Draper, were very soon taking portraits successfully.
Meanwhile the affairs of the telegraph at Washington had not prospered.
Congress had done nothing towards the grant which Morse had requested, notwithstanding the favorable report of its committee, and Morse was in desperate straits for money even to live on.

He appealed to the Vails to assist him further, but they could not, since the panic of 1837 had impaired their resources.

He earned small sums from his daguerreotypes and his teaching.
By December, 1842, Morse was in funds again; sufficiently, at least, to enable him to go to Washington for another appeal to Congress.

And at last, on February 23, 1843, a bill appropriating thirty thousand dollars to lay the wires between Washington and Baltimore passed the House by a majority of six.

Trembling with anxiety, Morse sat in the gallery of the House while the vote was taken and listened to the irreverent badinage of Congressmen as they discussed his bill.