Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-01
? R ROSP L G 7 u .
Nv AsHINGToN SENTINEL. :,


PROPOSE 10 publish IN the city OF Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, nn-
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
ciples of the Democratic party Of tie United States
II 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 its
views. :.
. II will not be ambitious TO Had selfto the
people by blind aaitery of their rulers II viii
seek public sipport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may Ii viii seek to
be (and II viii enIeavor TO deserve The tltle) the
organ of the Democratic parry Of the ieiie5
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
stitntion compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 20 IL,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation Of all
others to the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond tbes.
thus delegated, is, therefore usurpation of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent 81
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Constituton-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, il will the more efectnally strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers Of the
FeL eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shali ex-
ercis power which has moi been delegated by
the O. institution, according to strict and fair M,
.1c.s l.. and haf
shall mt seek to attain indirectly an obJectthrough
the Use of constitutional potce1, for the 6frect
attainme Of which it has deiegGtsoa Of porcer.
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except snch ~ ls clearly IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. IL VIII labor 10
inculcate 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 domestic coRceras-While 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 exgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic ana de-
cided; but should temper firmness with berallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctest
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
.xFt tle af 10
and the ambitious restlessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
xef
Our settled dete. mination &c repci interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, wl
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs Of other coun
tries unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace shoull 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 o
dangerous and unlriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be- by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defenSiUe II must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant 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 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 continent, with ncighbors but a colony, and
a 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 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. continent 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
IL at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through 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
inqs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarsm nd-superstl-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is calledf
mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbiDger of peace TO
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate hold
and earnest oro,gn policy such as the condition Of
the country demands; but il viii advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable 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 IL
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
! the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
it's interests, rights, and honor-it 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 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 Sentinelis the
rival of no press OF its own pariy-the personal
enemy of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
| the great principles upon which itcame into power;
1 and in its honest labors TO attain such an end i
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.