The State guard., 1848-09-05
To the Editer of,tAc Daily Aduertiser:
DETROIT, July 29, l64e.


 To the Edasr of the Louisville Journal ::
 SIR: Your paper of the 2oth inst:, has just been put into my hands, with it's edi- torial articles headed Financial opera tions of Lewis Cass.'
 AS I was the agent of the Western Land Association, so called, whose oper- ations are alluded to, it is an act of justice not less to Gen. Cass than to myself, that 1 should publicly expose the falschood of the article, which shall do by very brief statement, not permitting myself to doubt but that regard for the troth will in- sure its sdmiitauce into your columns:
 In 1886, an association was formed at Washington for the purchase and entry of western lands. Gen. Cass was one of the company, and, upon his recommenda- ton, as he was western man, and known me from youth, I was appointed the agent for making the purchases and locations, and gave bond in very heavy penalty for the faithful performance of my duties. The Hon. Henry Hubbard was treasurer, and 10 him all the assessments were to be paid, except those of Gen. Cass, the funds for which being Ut Detroit, were to be paid to me directly, agreeably to the arti- cles of associatiation. They were so paid, and credited by me,and were charg- ed to me upon the books of the treasurer. and accounted for on the settlement. From time to time, as other funds were required, they were rcmitted to me by the treasur- CT. It is not true that Gen. Cass had the control of the whole business. He had no more to do with it than other stockholders. The purchase were committed to my charge, and received my authority and n- structions from F. Ma,koe, jr, esq, the corresponding secretary, and from the Hon. Henry Hubbard, the treasurer. Gen. Cass left the United States as Min- ster to France in October, 1886, and did not return till l642, long after the disolu, lion of the association, and he never di- rectcd me in the execution of my duties, either before or after his departure.
 was responsible to the officers of the association, and, upon my earnest recom- mendation, its affairs were closed at Washington in October, 1887, at which time was requested to appraise the pro- perty, which did, and it was divided into forty-two shares, and assigned by lot, the lots being drawn by the Hon. w. s. Full ton, of Arkansas, to each shareholder !; and have receipts in my possession showing the delivery of the deeds to all the parties except to the Hon Daniel Webster, whose conveyance was deliv- cred to w. R. Thomas, esq, his attor- ney. This closed the business of the as- sociation under the articles of agreement. The property of each person, at his re- quest, remained in my hands for sale till August 1888, when the whole was surren. dered up, and my responsibility ceased.
 General Cass, as I have stated, was all this time in France, and he did not re- ceive his proceeds of the purchases till after his return, and then in property at a loss of more than one-half of the amount paid, besides interest. That the whole operation was unfortunate for all concern ed, nc one regrets more than l do but it will excite no surprise when the history oi u e purchases of land in the western country in 1886 and 1887 is recollected, together with the high prices given and the immense fall in the value=of proper ty which immediately afterwards took place. At any rate,, alone am responsi- ble for the purchases, and l have yet to learn that there is the first allegation that did not in good faith. You say you are authorized to make this statement by a member of the association, gentleman who paid $lO,000 into the hands of Gen. Cass or his agent, and who has never re. ceived anything in consideration of his money" 1 shall not stop to expose the dishonesty of man who, in making such charge to effect political object, says he paid that amount to General Cass or lis agent, when he must know perfectly well that l was the agent of the association, and not of any individual composing it. Does he mean by the disjunction here used, that he does not know to which of them he paid that large sum, or has he no vouch- CT either to show itself or to quicken his memory, or does he use General Cass's name when he knows he uses it falselyl
 I do not know who your informant is !; but whoever lie may be, l know the state, ment to be false, and challenge him to the proof of it.. le Eisi1ny q asSii,
 I have already explained how the pay nsnts were made, and the books of the 'fFft fitt 5f4tr Iif ilN- ttfrt i,tt-+ .i.4.t..