Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-30
Pr ROSPE G Il u s
w wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United States
it does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in SO far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express lis
views.
Il 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-
ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II viii seek 10 70
be land il will endeavor to deserve the title) 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-
stitution an a compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 4,
their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, to their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond thes-
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority OF the States ny 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 nv seduiously guarding
the latter, it will the eHectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers oithe
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
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exe Use Of constitutional potcer, for the Street
attainme of which il has no delegation Of poper.
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 th 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 TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their don,estie concerns-whe il 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exigencies,
ana correspond Win the iHtCICsts VI ahC
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cded but should temper frmness with hberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the stricest
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 restessness of others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, nnless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threstened, our security endan
gered, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
beNesisted by remonstrance, and, II need be- sy
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defensive il must sometimes be
apparently aggressfpe. Our administration should
be vigiant 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 it. We cannot
avoid il II we would. We have larger interests, and
d greater stake In the world and It's Destiny, tnan
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF 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 10 civilized life and 10
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 A continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhausuess IN its yet hidden wealth
is our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asn,
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, des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarsm 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 to which II is caliedf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our conlederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, Ms well as the peaceful arbiter OF It's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest forstgn policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but IL will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
and tinimpeachabIe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes Of the world it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that -
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on it's own. II must, in fine, be true 10
it's own interests, rights, and honor--t cannot 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 true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions des
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel - the
rival of no press OF its own party-the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principlesupon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
r ATER YEARS, py the Author OF " the