Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-07

In doing So il is proper should make known
| tho principles il will maintain and the policy II
will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party Of tie Uaited States
1 il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment Of the vernment, except in so far as an IN
4 dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent It's opinions end express its
views.
! II will NOT be ambitious 10 commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il will
| seek public ipport by the bold avowa of the
/ sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
| ton of all such may coniiict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. Ii will seek to
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the htle) 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 compact; by which also, they ere dte |
| the Federal Government, aud deiegaed % 4,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il. with an explicit reservation ~ al
others the States, or TO their separate govern
menfs. The exercise of any power beyond he>a
! thus delegated, is therefore, nsurpsion 81 tts
reserved authority Of the State ," j" gen, /"
i their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold and defend th nlon
| upon the basis of the rights Of the States under
| the Constituton-snd thus by sedulousiy guarding
the latter it will the more eHectnnly strengthen
| and perpetuae the former
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers ~ the
! Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will tax"
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall eN-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
thee Institution, according to strict and fair IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit and that
shall ne seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exe Use Of constitutional potcer for the 9trea
attainme of which it has no delsgGtion Of potcer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used Nr no purpose except such AZ i "'~ar'v m
tended by th Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration ot the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party IL Will labor 10
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
ternal policy that this Government viii besi
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 concer'aS--whe con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign Pohcy
OF the country 10 the promotion OF the common
interests, and defence of the common rights and
honor of the States composing H.
The SENTINEL. will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cded but should temper frmness with lberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the striotest
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide ia the course the SENTINEL WI
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 10 colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
- ell 10 NVIl
prompt us 10 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
or colonial policy which lnfrlnges upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unirendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, "
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be property defensiUe, I must sometimes be
arparentlv aggressive. Our administration should
be yiglant watchfu, and energetic. The world
il 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 il we would We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and. its desuny, than
every other people We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors 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 more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and ia
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 exhaustess 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 own limits Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles OF the sea, lying all around
us, look TO 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-
ZION Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II is calledf
A mission 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 will, therefore, advocate a bold
aUd earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
| the country demands; but IL will advocate II 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 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 10 nothing that is
| wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable 10
| insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true TO
its 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 - 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 It's in the establishment oi
the great principles upon which il came into power,
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of :. the
IL Old House by the RIVER
ID .lA-E ~ a