Washington sentinel., 1855-03-08
ROSP ECTU S
OF THE
.WAsHINCTON SENTINEL. :,

L Il KUSP EUTU S
| "WASHINGTON SENTINEL"
| TT PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
| II ton in September political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
| MEL.
| In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles twill maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
II will support. cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose 10 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 its
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemns
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter Shey may come II will seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tite) 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 as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 70 i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, 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 Consttution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise Of the powers ofthe
Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take as
the rincples ofts action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, ustitution according to strict and fair in
terprei tion of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek TO attain tsdirecy an object through
the exc, Use Of constitutional p0sosr, for the d,re
attainme of which il has no delegation Of potce,.
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 to the internal administration Of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the L mocratic party. II will labor to
inculcate this ca dinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy -, at this Government will best
promote the freed m and prosperity of the people
Of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concsrns-whle 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
honor of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaliiy
and make its highest ends consist with the sriotest
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 restlcssness of Others com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel Interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us avoid il in the affairs of other coln
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 infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
war.
Our foreign. policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but to be property deJens,Uc, il must sometimes be
apparentiy aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu, 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 II. We cannot
avoid it 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 contineni, with no neighbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchcal 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
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vas--our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess 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 10 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 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 to which il is called'
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of it's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate 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 with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immovcable in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights and honort 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 des
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
tho hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the