Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-13
PR OSP E G TU s
fN OF rHE
..wAsHINGToN sENTINEL.o

! .tN
Nv WASHINGTON SENTINEL"
II PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
| j ton, in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
| MEL
In doing so, il is proper 1 should make known
the principles il will maiptain, and the pohcy y
| will advocate. ftss sfet E
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of the Unatea States
il does not propose TO be the organ oil any Depart
ment of the Government except IN so Tar as an 10
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
| party may represent its opinions and express IT'S
views. W-4@ UGt8& xatE
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
| people by blind fattery 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 land it will endeavor TO deserve the title) 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 'o"-
stitution compact by which, ase, they crt-h'"d
! the Federal Government. and d~'egateh ~ i,
| az their common agent, the powers expressW
| specified in it, with an explicit reservation Q! all
others to the States,or to their separate govern-
! rnents The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an ',sHrpatlon 81 the
| reserved authority of the States hv the agent -
| their own creation. t
The SENrrvEL will uphold and defend the Union
] upon the basis OF the rights of the States-under
| the Constitution-and thus by seduonsly guarding
the latter il will the more efectuly strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers otthe
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rincipes of its action that Congress shall ex-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according TO strict and fair IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall n. seek attain tndrecky an object through
the exeI Use of Constitutional potcer, forihe 1srea
attainme Of which it has delegation Of 1'oac'r
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must 20
used for ,urpose except such as IL clearlv m
tended by tn Constitution.
| In respect to the internal administration 81 tie
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain The settled
policy Of the Democratic party II will labor 10
inculcaie 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 TO exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-whie 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 exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with liberallty,
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 its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
pursue.
: The national policy of the world in this age is
/ essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
| al-na of nf he n
| and the ambitious restlessness OF others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination to repel interference
4 from abroad with our domestic concerns, wli
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
4 gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
| or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights
1 and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and II need be, by
/ war
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defens,ps, Il must sometimes be
| apparently aggressiVe. Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic The world
| is full OF important movements, commercial and
1 political deeply concerning American trade and
/ American power. Ii is time we had an American
| foreign policy We must have il. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and IFS destiny, than
/ every other people. We occupy the best portion
/ OF a continent, with neghbors but colony, and
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 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 continent, to a great extent un.
| explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is al 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 us 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 barbarism and superst.
! lion of the millions of the world And shall snch
people refuse 10 lay hold upon-t destiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO which II 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 as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but II will advocate it under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the 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 Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
| the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in 6ne,' be true 10
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
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 Of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
! " D.