Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-04
p RiOSiP &c TUS
..wAsHINGTDN SENTINEL,


In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles twill maintain. sand the poify i
viii advocated slGy aJiaI5dI Enl 8ll ata
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the pfin
cpes of the Democratic party Of The United States
il does NOT propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
nieDt Of the Government, except in so far an I'D
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express rs
views r,t, tf I.f
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itself 10 The
people by blind fattery OF their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold ayowal of The
sentiments which are common TO- the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all snch as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come, Il will seek 10
be (and il will endeayor TO deserve the tite) 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
siltution a compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and de'esar' rie 4
a. their common agent, the powers rxprt ss't
specified in il, with an explicit reservation ot a
others to the States, or to their separate govern
rrants. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, IS therefore, isurpnliot Of n e
reserved authority Of the State bv 'h'. .ss3''t 4
their own creation, @ 3 }iAAf
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend tb., tauioi,
upon the basis of the rights of the Stateslnnd,,r
the Constituton--and thus by seduloiIsy guarding
the latter, ii will the more effecfually stranstl,n
and perpetuate the former.uf fa@13q aa I
With regard TO the exercise of the powers ofti;e
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a
the rinciples Of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G., institution, according to strict and fair in
terpret ton of It's lang mage and spirit and that II
shall nt seek to attain indirectly ec,through
the exel Use of constitutional poacer, for the dtret
- L L. IA.
IN other words, all powers exercised must he
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose except such as is clearly IN
tended hy tn Constitution. ft5I f
In respect TO the internal administration OF the
Government, ,he SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor to
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN .
ternal policy :-,ha, 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 to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic conceras---whne II 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 snchla progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigences,
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 stretest
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's 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 restessness OF others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self fz
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries nnLess by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endRn
gered or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt a foreign
or colonial policy which hinfringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by rfmonstrance, and, II need be- ~
tA . .s#41 .9e. aE#
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but to be prOperIg defens1Ue Il must sometimes be
apparsntlv aggressive Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements, commerciai and
ponh al deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL rs time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it, 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 port ion
of a continent, with neghbors but colony, and
o worn-out, anarchical despousm. 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 10 civilized life and 70
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ourfacllltle and capacity Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government A continent, TO great extent un-
explored and exhaustless IN IFS 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 10 MS as 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 superstl-
ton 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 called
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harblnger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arhlier ol ITS
destiny. rs 4sFgf~ - rH
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition of
the country demands; but it will advocate IL under
the flag of the country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeaehable good faith OF the country. %
be Respectable nt aiu anu W 10 kitui
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 Immoveable in
insisting on its own II must in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false to those OF other nations,
Such then, il 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. It's enemies IN the field or IN ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce. @ 81 W5ty ui ~ HU
To our future brethren of the press We extend
the hand OF friendly greeting, The Sentinel s the
rival of no press OF its own party--the personal
enemy Of none Of the other. ST t.Wo4 8elt
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for It's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power,
and in it's honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTrNELits friend and coabutor
| II ATER YEARS, py the Author Of {. the
il Old House by the River"
| Mr. Ruthcriord's Oh ldren, second volume
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous