Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-01
PR CTU s
aWAsHINGTON SENTINEL


the principles il win maintain, and the policy u
will advocate.
Il viii support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes Of the Democratic party of the United States
il 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 of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views.
It 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. 1t will seek TO
be and il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, 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 10 It,
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
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaton Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. a
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-under
the Consttution--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 strict and fair in
terpretation of its language and spirit and that il
shall seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional po,oer, for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation of poicer.
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
inculcate 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 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic ooncerns-while it con-
| tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
| of the country 10 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 will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
| cded; but should temper frmness 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,
4 and the ambitious restrssness of others, COM
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| isclf
Our settled determination TO repel interference
4 ahr with our
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan-
| gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
OF colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
| and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive I;
but TO be properly defeesiue il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be viglant, watchfu, 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 H. We cannot
avoid il II we would We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors but a colony, and
a worn-oui, anarchical despotism. We are the
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans Of
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and 10
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. continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
A..
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
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse TO 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, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable 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 endeavor
te be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles 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-thc 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 y came into power;
and in It's honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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