Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-26
PR TU S
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

! i FhOPOSE 10 publish In Inc city OF Washln8-
der 'p the name Of the w&sHiNGToNP sENTI TT
| MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
It will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples 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 its
| views
| 1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fat,ery 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-
| lon of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO it,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with 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.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectuay strengthen
and pcrpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Federal. Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action, that Congress shall
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
shall not seek to attain indirectly objectthr
the exercise Of constitutional potcer, for the direct
attainment Of which it has delegation of pozcer.
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. II will labor to
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal pollcy:-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 vioepce 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 a progressive
foreign policy 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 frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
| 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 restlrssness of others, COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
isef.
Our settled determination 10 repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, nniess by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened our security endan-
gered 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, Ay
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly detenSire, il must sometimes be
apparently aggreSSiue. Our administration should
be viglant, waichful, 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 II. We cannot
avoid il If we would We have larger interests, and
a greater STAKE IN Inc WOTlO anu utslluy, lndD
every other people. We occupy the best portion
| Of continent, with neighbors but a colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica despotism. 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 are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life and 10
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
4 A nxf.sn
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 musi
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia.
Africa and the isles OF the sea, lying all around
| US look 10 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-
| tion Of the millions of the world. And shall such
a 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 confcderacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of lis
destiny.
| The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
| the hag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spoess honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. 10
be respectable 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 IL
| wrong. Ii must be liberal aud magnanmous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immovcsble in
| insisting on its own. Ii must, in fine, be true 10
| its own interests, rights, and honor-t 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
| to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
| democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies III the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
| uounce. .,
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
| rival of 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 tcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjwor.
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