Washington sentinel., 1855-02-18
PR &c TIJ s
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL..v

~
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes OF the Democratic party of the United States
il does not propose 10 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 It's
views.
Il will not be ambitious TO commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be land il will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as Fundamental
truth great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution as compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
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 usurpation 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 Constituton--and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise THE powers ofthe
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action that Congress shall ex-
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 II
shall not seek 10 attain indirectly an obectthrongh
the exercise of constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which il has no delegation Of poioer.
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 I'M
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
inculcaie this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will bes'
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 concerns-whie it con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, 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 progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmness with lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strletest
principles Of Justice. The real interests OF the
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 oi
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
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries unLss by their foreign 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 infringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, u need be, BY
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but TO be properly dstensire. Il must sometimes be
ap11reutlu az pressipe. Our administration should
be vigilant, 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 pohcy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il ii 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 continent, with NO neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical dcspotism. We are the
ony 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 10 civilized lie, ana ~
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
government. continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and cxhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
IL 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
rs look TO us as the rising power, through the
agency OF whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
iugs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton OF the millions OF the world. And shall such
n pcople refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 10 which II IS calledf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, 4 properly directed, mus,
make our conlederacy the harbingcr Of peace 10
the world as well as the peaceful arbiier OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign poiicv, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate under
the flag ofthe couniry--nowhere else. lis ioreign
Dolicv must be consistent with the spotess honor
and usimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights oil Otncrs; anu iHHi hhu ihhoNt"oie ~
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 aud free, we shall endeavor
TO be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
VA d.fsnd I,s 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 administrator has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
! and in its honest lebors to attain such an end u
will find the SENTINEL its friend end coadJutor.
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