Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-18
PR OSP ECTU s
OF TIKI
"yy ASfHNGTON SENTINEL"

ii
/ ton in September, 4 political newspaper, nn.
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl'
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make knowr
the principles il will maintain, and the pohcy ~
will advocate.
|, will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes Of the Democratic party Of tie United States
it does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart.
ment of the Government, except IN so far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines Oh tha'
party may represent lis opinions and express IT.
views.
Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itself to the
people by blind fatery 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-
lion Of all such as may conflict with them from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek tc
be land it will endeavor 10 deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
sttution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IT.,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, TO their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, an usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent o.
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statas-undeI
the Constitution-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 a.
the principles of Its action, that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to strict and fair in
depreciation OF its language and spirit and that IL
shall not seek attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional poacer, for the direc
attainment of which il has no delegation Of potoer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be-
used for purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration OF the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II will labor To-
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna pocy:-that this Government will bcs,
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
Of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious To preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment OF all their domestic concer7iswhile il 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 il.
The SENTINEL win advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de
cided; but should temper lirmness with hberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age j,
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restrssness of others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
iselE
Our settled determination 10 repe interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign or colonial policy ouI
peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce o
dangerous and unfriendy rival, sucha policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly dsfenSiue, il must sometimes be
app1re,itiv az gyesstue. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements, commercial and
politial deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il ii we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We arc the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are 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. A conliuent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
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 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
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which Il is called
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confcderacy the harbinger of peace To
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate n bold
and earnest toroign policy, such the condition ol
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag oithe country--nowhere else. It's foreign
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at home aud abroad and TO be gresr
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right and submit TO nothing that il
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on it's own II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
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 success 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 ard coadjutor
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