Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-14

In doing SO, IL is proper | should make known
tho principles il will maintain and The policy 4
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic purity Of the limited States
il does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far an IN
dependent maintenance OF the doctrines ot that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views. .aH a
Ii will not be ambitious to commend itsefto the
people by blind flattery of their rulers. 1t will
seek public s ipport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which 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. II win seek 70
be land il will endeavor 10 deserve the ttle) 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 otthe Con
stiluton compact; by which. also they cr"a' y
the Federal Government, and delegated o {,
as their common agent, the powers .eSpressly y
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of oil
others 10 the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise ofsuy covers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore an usnrpaton n' the
reserved authority Of the States hy hc agen' ~
their own creation. .t
The SENTINEL will uphold m, defend be t3nfun
upon the basis of the rights of the Staies-nnder
the Consttution--and thus by s-dulouSly guarding
the latter it will the etectuaS strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise OF the powers ofihe
Fee eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rinciples of its action that Congress shall rN-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c, institution according 10 strict and fair il
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; and thai ii
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly an oblectthrough
the exel Use of constitutional potoer, Tor the arec
attainme of which il has delegation Of poaoer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such a. - clearly IN
tended by tn 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 policy that this Government viii 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 coalcer1s--whle II 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 II.
The SENTINEL will 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 frmness with hberaty,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In tho 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
self.
o. .a,,iol lo,.r,o;n,,;on ~ ranal in,erfaranca
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
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 cndan
gered or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
aud places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly 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 dete'isiue It must sometimes be
al,parentkv AGGRESSIVE. Our administration should
be vglant, 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 it. 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 a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
olny 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 vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government continent, TO a great extent un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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 10 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 over the barbarsm 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 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 harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbter 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 it under
the flag the country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
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 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 honorit 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 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 itcame into power;
andin its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor