Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-25
PROSPE G 7 U s
Nv asHINCToN SENTINEL. >

wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL"
/ II PROPOSE to publish in the city OF Washing
4 i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
/ In doing So il is proper | should make known
the principles twill maintain and the policy il
| will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly The prin
cples ofthe Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
| party may represent its opinions and express It's
| views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. IL Will
| seek public support by the bold avowal o. the
| sentiments which are common to the genuine
| Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
| ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. It VIII seek 10
| be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the tte) the
| organ of the Democratic party OF the United
| States.
! The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification OF the Con-
stituon compact; by which, alse, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO u,
| as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation Of all
others TO the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond tnese
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaticn OF the
reserved authority of the States hv he agent ot
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States.-under
| the Consttution--and thus by sedulonsiy guarding
the latter it will the more efrctually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers Of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take \.
| the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ey-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c, institution, according 10 strict and TAR ~
erpre, tion Of It's language and spirit; and that Il
shall ne seek 10 attain indirectly an object through
the exeI Use of constitutional potoer, for the IarGc
attainme of which it has no delegation Of potoer.
| In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, aud all granted powers must be
used for no Nurpose, except such as - clenrN Ia
tended by tn Constitution.
| In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
| Governments The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy Of the Democratic party, II VIII labor 10
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
| ternal policy:-ihat this Government VIII besl
| 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 ooneerns-while II con-
| tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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 H.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as 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 liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctest
| principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL WI
| 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 restrssness of others, com
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
/ self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
/ from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries HnleSs by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan
| gered, 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 unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, Il need be, by
| war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dsteHSiUe, II must sometimes be
apparently aggyessiUe. 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. Il is time we had an American
| foreign policy We must have il. We cannot
| avoid il ii 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 a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
worn-out anarchica 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 TO civilized life, and To
4 human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity Tor
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, 10 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 al 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 us 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
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which i is called
| A mission full Of hope, though 80 laden with
| responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of lis
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate IL under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| 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 10
the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
| insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
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
II q. IL. "a
democratic principles 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 It's own party-the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
rest wishes for its in the establishment oi
the great principles upon which itcame into power,
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.