Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-03
ROSP E G. 7 U S
..wASHINGTON SENTINEL

|
| II PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
| i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl.
| MEL
| the principles il win maintain and the policy il
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO 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 VIII
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union and by the condemna-
| ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
| be (and it will endeavor to deserve the utle) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
The SENTnEL will maintain, as 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 TO Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States to their separate govern
nents 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 Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution, according strict and fair in
/ If.arp of ifs Ian
shall seek attain indirectly an object through
the exel Use Of constitutional pooer for the direct
attanme of which it has no desgatlon Of poncer.
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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
ternal polcy:-tha this Government viii 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 eoncerns-whlle II 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 itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctes
principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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 restlsssness of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly dsfeasrue. Il must sometimes be
appareaflu aperssstpe Our administration should
be vglani, 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 policy. We must have il. We cannot
III.
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of a continent, with neighbors but colony and
o 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 are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and tc
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. continent, to a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great Eas,
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 to 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 supersti-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which it is called? !?
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent eth 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 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, 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 OF 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 press OF It's own party-tho personal
| enemy Of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end "
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor