Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-28
Pr OSPE CTUS
.wAsHINGToN sENTINEL.Y
OF THE

"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL.v
II PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
l ton, in September, political newspaper UNI
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL
In doing so, il is proper / should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United Statss.
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind aattery OF their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek TO
be land il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL viii maintain, as fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States or to their separate govern
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpafon of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Constftution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles Of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to a ctand fair in
depreciation Of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly an objectthrongh
the exercise of constitutional 7o,er for the direct
attainment of which il has no allegation of poorer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. 1t will labor to
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
OF the States, by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-while it con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country to the promotion of the common
interests, and defence Of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigcncies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles of Justice The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, nnLess by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which infrnges upon rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be- by
war;
Our foreign policy should indeed be defensive,
but TO be properly defens,pe. 4 must sometimes be
apparently aggressiUe. Our administration should
be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements, commercial and
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
of a continent with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotsm. We are the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans of
The world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life and TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast--our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government contjoent, 10 great extent un-
cd and han Lees sto.v
al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors or must
be made through our own limits Europe Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look TO us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings Of liberty, civilization, and religion are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their DESTINY and
act upon the high mission 10 which IL is called?
A mission so full Of hope, though laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiier of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanmous 10
the rights Of Others and firm and nimoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 those OF other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeayor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends of
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand OF friendly greeting The Sentinel is the
rival of no press Of its own party-the personal
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.
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