Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-09
ROSP Il ct u s
..w AsHINcTDN SnS sENTINEI..v

4
| der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
! MEL. aa tr4 es p H8a .,
| In doing so, il is proper should make known
tho principles it will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate. ats MI4 2.1i,4, Ee
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes Of the Democratic party Of tie United States
it does not propose 10 be tAe 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 It's opinIo'is and express It's
i Views. .i rsfa.a
/ Il will not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
| people by a blind aattery Of their rulers. Ii will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
4 sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of tbs. zUnion, and by the condemno
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, rom
/ whatever quarter they may come. II VIII seek 10
be fand will andeavor 10 deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
i States
| The SENTINEL will maintain, as q Fundamental
truth Of thai great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification Of the Con
/ sutntion as a compact by which, a-e, they created
l the Federal Government and delegated 10 H.
\ as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in IT, with explicit reservation ot all
others to the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond ihes'
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaii@n - the
| reserved authority OF the States by the agent a.
/ their own creation. ,sse
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
/ upon the basis of the rights of the States under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectnally strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
| With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
| FeCeral Government the SENTINEL will take a
the rincpes Of its action, that Congress shall e1
| ercis no power which has not been delegated BY
the C, Institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; and that II
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the exei Use of constitutional p0tcer, for the 1irect
| attainme Of which il has dlegation of poiosr.
| In other words, all powers exercised must he
clearly gra tcd and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, 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 policy:--,ha this Government VIII best
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic cotcernS--whle 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 Il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
L country. nat pOHcy snOulu DC cHCIrcuC dHo dc-
cided; but should temper frnness with liberality,
| and make its highest ends consist withthe stretes
| principles of Justice The real interests OF the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
| will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
/ pursue.
essentially aggressive. In tho growing sense OF
weakness Of some OF the nations OF the Old World,
| and the ambitious restlessness 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 il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign or colonial poncy 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
| dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, .y
war. NA
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dcfsns1ve. Il must sometimes be
| apparenflv agqressire Our administration should
be vigiani, waichful, 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
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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
q 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 Ia
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacityfor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government A continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhausiess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 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 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which Is calledf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF it's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
| the flag fthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that =
| wrong Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights OF others, and firm and irninoveable IN
insisting on its own. IL 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
| 10 be honest and truthful The true friends OF
| democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de.
i nounce.
To our future brethren of the press we extend
! the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
l 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 principles upon which itcame into power
i and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end u
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadIuior
T ATER YEARS, Dy the Author Of the
Ia Old House by the RIVER
Mr.. Rutherford's Children, second volume.
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