Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-22
PR0SPEC 7 U s
WASHINGTON SENTINEL.

In doing so, il is proper | should make known
| tho principles il will maintain, and the policy I
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of tie Utted State
! it does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depar
| ment of the Government except in so far as an u
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF tina
/ party may represent its opinions and express ~
| views.
| II will not be ambitious 10 commend itself 10 III,
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II vii
| seek public support by the bold avowa of the
| sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemns
1 tion of all such may conflict with them, iron
| whatever quarter they may come II VIII seek te
4 be land il will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, az tundamenta
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con
stituton as compact; by which also, they created
| the Federal Government and delegated 10 II
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
| specified in il, with explicit reservation OF al
| others to the States, TO their separate govern
| nients. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Is therefore, an usurpaton Of the
| reserved authority of the States hy The agent O
| 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 seduously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples OF it's action that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the O. institution, according 10 strict and tar IN
terprei ton of its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek TO attain indirectly an obJectthrough
the Use of constitutional potcer, for the direc'
attainme / of which il has delegation Of potosr
In othor words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose, except such as Is 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. Il will labor TO
incucate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic in
ternal policy:--ihat this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic concerns-whe il 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-
cded but should temper hrmness with hberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL wril
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 restrssness OF others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, uaiess by their foreg gn 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 infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy musl
be resisted by remonstranee, and, il need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
bur TO be properly defensiUe Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressiue. Our administration should
be vigani, 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 American
foreign policy. We must have II. We cannot
avoid il If we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of contnen MT, with neighbors but colony, and
olny people whose OWE land, without colonial de.
tendencies is washed by the two great oceans oi
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and IA
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity or
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
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
us, look 10 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 10 triumph over the barbarism 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 full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, mus
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace tc
the world, well the peaceful arbiter Of it:
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate boi1
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition o
the country demands; but IL will advocate il under
/ the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
/ and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. tt
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be grea
/ in the eyes Of the world IL must ask for nothing
but what is right and submit TO nothing that u
| wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous e
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable II
insisting on it's own. II must, in fine, be true Il
its own interests rights. and honor-it cannot ther
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall b,
/ guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavo
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
| democratic principles we shall cordially suppor
1 and defend. Its enemies the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de
! nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extenC
the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is III,
rival Of no press OF is own party-thc persona
enemy Of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has ou
hest wishes for its success in the establishment Q
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end 1
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor