The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-05-13
ssA Brief Statement Of Factssxw
TO THE PUBLIC.

attacks upon leading and influential members O
the Republican party in eass County, having de
graded the Cass County Tribune in public estima
ton, and rendered it no longer fitting organ o
the Republican party, an advisory meeting of tn
Republican Supervisors aud County Oficers,- witt
others, members of the party, was held IN til,
Court House in Cassapolis, January 5th, to consul
upon the course to be pursued under such ciroum
stances 1t was the unanimous opinion of thos,
present at this meeting, that the unjustfabll
course pursued by the Tribune for some time pre-
vious, was chiefly owing to the influence and con
troll of S. N. CAN'T over the editorial department
of the paper and that suitable arrangements should
be made, by setting aside that influence to restore
the Tribune to its former standing and usefulness
as party organ. Laboring under this impression
and actuated by these motives, the meeting passed
resolution of confidence in James L. CAN'T as a
good Republican and an active publisher. They
also appointed committee of five, composed Of
the following persons, to-wit Justus Gage, w. G..
Beckwith, Joshua Lofand C. Shanahan and j.
Osborn, to confer with Mr. CAN'T on the subject Of
making such an arrangement as might be mutually
beneficial to the party and the pecuniary interests
of the paper. Mr.. Shanahan and Mr.. Osborn not
being able to act with the committee Jesse G.
Beeson and VIM. Sprague were appointed substi-
tutes. All of these men were friendly to James l..
CAN'T, three of them warmly and personally so.
After considerable difficulty and delay, occa-
stoned chiefly by the opposing influence of s. N.
Can't, the committee obtained an interview with
James L. CAN'T with whom an arrangement was
effected, by which it agreed in substance, that
an editor should be associated with James L..
CAN'T, whose services should be paid by the COM
mittee; that in case of disagreement in regard to
any article proposed for insertion, the question
should be determined by the committee for the
time being. s. N. CAN'T verbally agreed to step
aside, and have nothing more to do with the edto-
rial course of the paper. Justus. Gage, who for
two years prior had been connected with the paper
as Agricultural editor, personal friend of James
l.. CAN'T, was agreed upon by solicitation of Mr.
CAN'T, associate editor for the time being. This
was to be continued until after the
next gubernatorial election. With what degree of
faithfulness this arrangement was carried out,
may be seen by an examination of the succeeding
numbers of the Tribune, and in the general con-
duct of 5. n CAN'T in regard to the paper up to
the time of the adjourned meeting on the I'd of
january following. Low scurrility and personal
abuse continued to disgrace the columns of the
Tribune. Not one article of Mr.. Gantt's was ever
to the inspection of the associate editor
md their character was unknown to him until after
heir publication; and the whole course of Mr..
Can't and his father demonstrated what they i'm
private declared-that they had made the arrange
aca of oh how in,
tended to throw off the first favorable oppertr-
1ity.
AT the adjourned meeting on the I'd of January,
had for the express purpose of hearing the report
Of the committee in the premises, and for further
consultation if necessary, of which both James L.
CAN'T and his father were appraised and invited to
attend, it was the unanimous opinion that the ar
had been violated by both father and
ION in letter and in spirit and that it abs,
utely necessary. sumo further means should
mad to further the interests of the Republican part
in the County. 1t was therefore
Resoloed, That the committee be authorized
procure the publication of newspaper which shat
be the approved organ of the Republican marty
and out of regard to the interests of James /
Gantt which might be made to suffer i'm conse
quence thereof, negotiations should I'm the frs
place be opened with him for the purchase of tn
Cass County Tribune upon fair and liberal terms
Justus Gage was appointed by the committee t,
negotiate with Mr.. Can't for the purchase of hi
press and paper. The Gantts protested their will
ingness to sell, but put the price of their ofic,
about one-third higher than its true value But il
the meantime, having secured as they supposed
the State Printing, and obtained other ASSURANCES
NJ
to sell at all, and published article repudatna
the arrangement previously made with the com
mittee took upon themselves again the exclusive
control of the paper, and set the committee at de-
ance; but at the same time promising to comply in
future with the wishes of the party, as expressed
through the committee, in rendering the paper an
approved and deserved organ of the Republican
party for the County. (See Tribune of February
18th and l9th.)
At this new turn of affairs the committee held a
consultation, at which it was agreed to await, and
more fully test the sincerity of these new pledges
of fidelity to the interests of the party and of COM
mon decorum in the conduct of the paper, before
taking further measures in the premises but with
what result the succeeding numbers of the Tribune
too fully demonstrated. s. N CAN'T the senior edi-
tor in fact, repeatedly declared that he would break
down the Republican party at the Fall election,
md James joined his father in asserting in SUBJ
stance that he would not feel himself bound to
sustain the nominations of the party unless made
n accordance with their wishes and personal APP
'roval S. N. CAN'T declared himself a Douglas
Democrat over his own signature in the paper
oted the Democratic ticket at the township cleo
ion; gloated over the defeat of the Republican
icket in his own township; and continued his un-
lstifiable attacks upon reliable and sound men
trough the columns of the Tribune, claiming still
, be the organ of the party to which they be-
'nged- tSee Tribune of April 9th.) Under such
with no further reliance upon the |
liability or fidelity of the Tribune as aparty organ
he committee deemed it essentially necessary to |
lrry out the resolutions of the meeting of the I'd
january, in procuring the publication of news
lper which should be an approved organ of the
epublcan party, and the Cass County REPUBLICAN
DIV comes to you as the result of their efforts.
Deeply deploring the state of things by which
ch measure has been rendered necessary for
&C support of the party organization, and the sue
IS of its measures, call upon all true Republi-
ms to give it their confidence and support.
The press and material of the Cass County Re-
BLIcAN are all new and good the official patron
e of the County has been secured; the editors
ID proprietors come to us highly recommended,
active and reliable men; large and rapidly
creasing list of subscribers has been obtained
that we have every assurance that the Cass
'unty REPUBLICAN is a fixed fact, devoted to the
ccess of the party and the best interests of the
unty. 9Ai
JUSTUS- GAGE, '
JESSE c. BEESON
WALTER g. BECKWITHf m t