Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-04
PR OSP E CTU s
.swAsHINGToN SENTINEL

II fhOPOSE 10 puDlsh In Inc city OF WaShnS
der The the name Of the WASHINGTON sENTiI
Il MEL.
In doing So il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate. Ds
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
eples of the Democratic party Of the U,iHed States.
II does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment THE Government, exceptin so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
y II will not be ambitious to commend itself to the
people by a blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
i sentiments which are common TO the genuine
pDemocracy-of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton Of all ssnrh az ysconAict with then, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and it will endeavor TO deserve the tle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
The SENTINEL viii maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party at the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 IL,
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, an usurpaton of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creationa A 58
/ u me eCENTlNEL VIII upnOiu ana ueIenu the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise ofthe powers ofthe
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
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
terpretaton of its language and spirit; and that
shall not seek to attain fdrecty an objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional otoer, for the direct
attainment of which ii has delegation of toicer
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
tcrnal poicy:-that this Government will bes,
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic coneerns--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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with beralfty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
| principles Of Justice. The real interests of the
1 country upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
I 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 TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries nnless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which nringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war. t4 tB
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be property dt5cnsive, it must sometimes be
arporentlp aggreSsiue. Our administration should
be viglant, watchfu and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
E3,otital, 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
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
only people whose own iand, 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 TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent TO great extent, rn-
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 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 to triumph 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 caledf
A mission full OF hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL. win, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such 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 unimpeachabe good faith ofthc country. To
be respectable at 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. 1t 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 10
IFS own interests, rights and honorit 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 press Of its own party-thc personal
enemy Of none the other. lM
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcanic into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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