Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-01-29
The sentinel and the statesman.

L
is contained in the following sentence: Some time in
the spring of 1850, Mr.. Brown in the of his son.
bought of Messrs Chapmans the subscription list and
good will of the State Sentinel for 81 OO0,' &C. Austin
H. Brown the sole purchaser and the FIRST payment
made from his earnings a Clerk in the Post Office
Department. 1t was bona tide ransacton-nothing
sham about it contributed by any po-
htca friend, has been represented. To inure the
Sentinel it stated that Gen. Cass had aided
in the enterprise. We have letter from the General
positively conradictng this unlounded assertion.
Again, he states that refused purchase the
terals and State Printing of Mr.. Chapman Mr.. Chap
man offered TO sell the newspaper materials and State
Printing for SI2 900 cash in hand or Sis 900 on time
This diversified the pile of the publisher and he
PEELED to purchase only what he could pay for. Thc
Office and contract afterwards sold Ellis and
Spann, on time for one thousand dollars less than the
price demanded of A. H. Brown cash down.
As his right to establish paper, no has called
that in questions but he intimates that had
fployedhinto print paper he would have csab-
l6shed one in opposition to us. To have employed him
10 print the paper would have imposed the labor
of editing whist he would have reaped the profits He
says his only design publish family Demo-
cratic paper, aRd by to interfere with the
" Sentinel" Our paper is a family Democratic paper
and in that particular do the difference. We
procuredhe evidence of FRIEND if necessary, who
demonstrated with Ellis against the establishment Of
other Democratic paper; and his reply, in substance,
was that the Democracy of Indiana would not sustain
paper, Editor, who supported The Omnibus bill
clearly proving that he expected to suPpant the Sem
tinel, by opposing the Compromise measures He
plains that have raised the cry of Freesoil. We
shall take some other occasion show the nnmstakabc
evidence which this cry raised For the present
waive any reply to that charge. The following
statement however, demands Of a notice more in de-
tail:
Unde- the advice Of friends we again made writ
ten proposition to Mr. Brown TO unite the two estab-
lishmeurs equitable terms but proposition
declined, and he refused 10 make any IN return. We
still hold ourselves readiness make such arrange
either by selling the Statesman purchasing the
Sentinel. on FAIR, honest. and reasonable tcrms.'
On about the first day of October, 1850, when the
delegates assembled the meeting the Convention
cF'rt made the part Of mutual friends to
bring about reconciliation, and the
two papers. Among these friends we mention Gov.
Wright, r. D. Owen, NJ G Bright, and Judge Borden.
We expressed Willingness ter any honorable
arrangement The following proposition was then sub
mittc,l by Ellis Spann:
PROPOSITION.
LIST. That Ellis & Spann and Austin III. Brown shall
unite the Statesman and Sentinel Offices Cor the pubca-
ton of one paper, to be called the Statesman.
2d That all the materials and subscription st Of the
Sentinel shall be considered the capital stock e the firm,
10 I've invested by Brown, and that the Printing Office
and materials Of the Statesman Office, and the State
Printing shall be the capital stock TO be invested
by Ellis & SPaBn
Sd That all accruing debts due said Brown for work
advertising previous date and all moneys received
for subscription previous TO date shall be the property OF
said Brown, and same to apply To Ellis & SPann
4th All debts due for the Statesman Sentinel
shall be the property Of the firm.
9th. The firm shall be equal partners in all work to
he hereafter done, all profits and losses except that the
of 81 900 of the receipts for the State Printing
shall be the property of Ellis Spann alone the pur-
pose Of equalizng the capital stock.
9th. Ellis shall he the responsible Editor-the other
partners assistants.
7th Details to be settled in personal interview.
To say nothing of the lberaIiy price, Sc, the
proposition rejected for two reasons The State
ScRtne" bad been published for nine years by the Chap
IL had been regarded the central organ Of the
party; and willing drop the name, OF
haul down the flag under which many victories has
been achieved Il would have been tantamount to a dis
continuance Of the paper. The " Sentinel" being the
old paper the proposition would have been much more
plausible had it been to merge the Statesman in the
Sentinel" Again, had little much sclfrespec
that the head of the paper should stand
w. H. Ellis Responsible Editor, W, J. Brosa Assist
ant Editor.
We had fought too long in the Democratic party tC
play second fiddle the Editor of the
man." Ellis being unwilling admit his equa
we rejected the proposition unreasonable.
But he says stl hold Ourselves in readiness Il
make such arrangement either by selling The SiatesnGr
or purchasing the Sentinel on fair honest and
fsrms" This leaves the impression that Ellis is
willing to make a fair and honorable arrangement. II
any such IMPRESSION submit the following
facts: Jonathan A. Lison, Esq, friend who we hay,
and respected since his boyhood called
suggested that DIR. Ellis willing sell the States
newspaper if would purchase, manfesting
willingness to make any proper arrangement; solicit
ed Mr. Liston mutual friend of both parties, OBJ
tain proposition from Ellis & Spann. In few day
he submitted the following:
Ellis and Spann, on the LIST day Of August, 1853
will sell :heir entire Printing establishment, presses
types fixtures and subscription list Brown for thu
.sgm OF So 600, payable in and years from tn
date os transfer with interest and security will suspend
the oftse Statesman that date and obliaa
themselves under bo,ds not engage in the printing
publishing Business in the city Of indianapolis for tn
term of ave years from said date, under forfeiture
5000. Said Ellis Spann reserve the right to com
pete any Jobs of printing that may be on hand Is
Aug. SO, may transfer the same to Brown sue
terms as may be agreed upon Should payments b
made in advance for the Statesman after that period
Ellis & Spann shall pay Brown pro rata for supplying
paper to each subscriber
The controversy between Ellis Spann and Brow
shall cease from this period
This agreement shall be signed by all the parties, wit
responsible securities both Sides and shall be obser'
ed in good faith.
This matter shall be submitted to the negotiation
j A. ListOn, II. ID. Owen, and --, and wba
ho 6noIlu hall IN