The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-22
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GRAND HAVEN, MIcnIeAN.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, DEC. p, 1858.
TO THE PUBLIC.


it will be conducted. The press Of our
country is the grand agent in the forma-
ton and direction of public opinion
When used for corrupt and venal pur-
poses it is a powerful engine of evil
When directed by honesty and intelli-
gence il is the conservator of reform and
progress. 1t should occupy no neutral
position, but speak candidly, boldly, and
with frankness, upon all measures where
the public good is concerned. 1t should
seek chat popularity which follows, not
that which is followed after Its morali-
ty should be pure. Its independence un-
doubted. It's principles should be such
as would commend themselves to the
judgment and conscienccs of men.
These are briefly our views of the
power of the press aud the manner in
which it should be conducted. And we
have established this paper, not merely
because of the business it may afford, but
with sincere and earnest desire to pro-
mote what we conceive to be sound and
just views Of our moral and political re-
lations. This, then, is to be moral and
political press. The morality we shall
inculcate, will, at least, not differ, and we
humbly trust it shall be found in accord
ance with the charity, purity, and love,
taught in the example and precepts of
Him who could not err. It's politics will
be democratic. 1t will advocate the prin-
ciples Of that party of which JEFFERSON
was the founder, of which JAMES BU-
cHAxAN is, today, the representative, and
STEPHEN A. DoUGLAs the able exponent.
We refer them to the history of our coun-
try, almost every page of which is an ev-
idcnce of their justice and sound policy.
This government, since the days of THos.
JEFFERSON, has been almost exclusively
under the control Of the democratic par
lty. To that grand, national, aud conserv-
progress, its present Stability, and grand
eur, together with all its glorious prom
ises for the future. That party, we be-
lleve, today, to be the one to which true
and enlightened patriotism must look for
the protection Of our constitution and the
perpetuity of this confederacy. It's prin-
ciples, if fairly carried out, will quiet the
storms Of sectionalism and fanaticism, now
sweeping across our country, and bring it
back to safety and repose. We ask you
to look, without prejudice, at those prin-
ciples and we feel you must commend
them:
LIST. Non-intervention by the general
government in the affairs of the Territories,
leaving the people thereof perfectly free
to regulate their own domestic institu-
tons in their own way, subject only to
the constitution Of the United States.
Cd. A reverence for the constitution
and obedience to the laws of the land; q
Strict construction of the first, and observ-
ance of the last, as authoritatiyely ex-
pounded by our judicial tribunal.
Sd. That the highest law, so far as
the political conduct of q citizen of this
country is concerned, is the constitution
of the United States, the constitutions of
the respective States, and laws ,ightfnlly
enacted under them, and our entire and
scornful Republication Of the doctrine that
a mans private opinion can justly protect
him in detying the laws of his country.
4th. The rights of all the States, and
the rights Of each State, to be justly and
impartially guarded by the general gov
eminent, and Unconstitutional guarantees
to be executed in the spirit and the letter.
9Th. A belief that this government
was organized by achite men, for the BEN
eft of white men, and that ,Ohits men,
under the law, and of right shall judge
of the time when to grant, and the extent
of the privileges to be granted TO the in