Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-29
P ROSP E G 7 II s
..wAsUINGToN s,sYryNEa.

ssWASHtNGTONS SEHGp N En-.
/ I PROPOSE 10 publish in the city Of Wasnins-
/ il ton, in September, political newspaper, uu-
der the name OF The WASHINGTON SENTl
| MEL
| In doing SO, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy Il
/ will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party of He Uaitsd States
il does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far 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 itsefio the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowa of the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
1 whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek TO
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the ntle) the
organ of the Democratic party O. the United
| States.
| The SENTINEL will maintain, az o fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification OF The Con
stituton compact; by which, aise they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 q,
| 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, Isl therefore, usurpalion OF the
reserved authority Of the States hy he ggent ~,
/
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States s-under
| the Constitution thus bv sedulously guarding
/ the latter. il will the more etfectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
/ With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
4 Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL VIII take A.
the rnciples Of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
| the c. institution, according 10 a strict and fair IN
| 4 nOFif lane nd
shall seek 10 attain snd,rectfy an object through
the Use of constitutional poscer for the lrec
attainme of which it has no delegation Of poacey.
| In other words all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no 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 10
| inculcate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
| ternal policy:-,hat 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 concerns-while il 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 hberality
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 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 restlessness of others, com
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
4 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 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 nfringes upon our rights.
/ and places in the pathway of our commerce q
dangerous apd unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, ty
war
| Our foreign policy should. indeed be defensive,
but to be properly defensrUe I must sometimes be
| apparsfiflp aggressive. Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full of important movements, commercial and
4 political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. Ii is time we had an American
| foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
| avoid it If we would. We have larger interests and
greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
| q rn-out, anarchical despotsm. 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 LIE, and 10
/ human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
i internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those OF any other people living under one
| government. A continent, 10 a great extent, IN
i explored and exhausUess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 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
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II Is called
1 A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
/ the world as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
/ destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition oil
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
/ the flag the country-nowhere else. It's foreign
1 policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and uninpeachabIe good faith of the country To
be respectable home and abroad, and to be great
| in the eyes of the world II must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that Is
| wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable 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
| TO be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we 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 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 II came into powers
and in its honest abors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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