Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-24
PR OSP EC T u S
WASHINGTON SENTINEL. !,

| II PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
| u ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL
the principles il will maintain and the policy i
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United State,
II does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views
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.
tion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a Fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 I,
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 oI
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, il will the more eectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
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
A. e L., ,x,l tkat -
shall nt seek to attain smdtyecty object through
the exel Use of constitutional pooer, for the direct
attainme Of which il has no desgatson Of poaoey.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose except such as is clearly IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 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 will 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 10 the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic eoncerns-while 1t 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 IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itsefto the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL. vii
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 restlessnes, OF others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
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
gered or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights,
and places in the pathway OF our commerce a
dangerous and unfricndly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, u need be, BY
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dete,sipe, must sometimes be
apparently aggressipe. Our administration should
be vgilant, watchful and energetic The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il il 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 no neighbors but colony and
a worn-out, anarchcal despotism. 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 civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our faclitesand capacity for
.n,x II mr. axta Had
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exbaustless In its yet hidden wealth
s at 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 des-
tined 10 triumph over 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 1t is called
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest fore,gn policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate II under
the flag ofthc country-nowhero 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 10 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 TO
the-rights Of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true to
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannon 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 truo 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 paIty-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcsme into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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