Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-21
PR OSP E G I us
w wAsH,NGTON SENTINEL. .,


| will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il 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 It's
views.
Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itself to the
people by blind hattery of their rulers Ii will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| ion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the utle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL. will MAINTAIN, az fundamental
truth of that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution as a compact by which, also they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in ik with an explicit reservation OF ali
others 10 the States, TO their separate govern-
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
ihus delegated, is, therefore an usurpanoG - the
reserved authority of the States by the age"r 81
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 by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the efecinallv strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
FeGeral Government the SENTINEL will take
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the @, Institution according TO strict and fair III
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; and thai II
shall nj seek attain andsrectiy objectthrough
the Use of constitutional po,cer, for the 1trect
atainme of which IT has no delegation of potoer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly era ted and all granted powers must be
used for ,prpose, except such a. rs clearly In
tended by III 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
nculcate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
ternai policy that this Government Will bes
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic c0ncerRs-whlle 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 1t.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strotest
principles OF justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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 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, uRieSs 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 infrnges upon our rights.
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
bur 10 be properly defensfpe, Il must sometimes be
atpare1tiv agegessipe. Our administration should
be vigtlant, 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 il. We cannot
avoid il il 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
worn-out, anarchical despotlsm. 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 life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast--ourfaciites and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under ono
government. A continent, TO a great extent, un
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
IL al 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,
md he ieie of n
us, look 10 the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and superst.
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called2
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 20
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter Of iis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foregn policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but II will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnahimous TO
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
it, own interests, rights and honorit cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the char by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeovor
10 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 ness 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
lest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
II ATER YEARS, py the Author OF 8 the
! i Old House by the RIVER"
1 NJ Rntharfords hfldren Aspnnf vplunne