Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-26
PR ECTU S
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL. ),

i II PROPOSE to publish in the city OF Washing
| i ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
| 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 prn
| cpes of the Democratic party of the United State,
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
| ment Of the Cove rnment, except in so far an in
i dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of tina,
| party may represent its opinions and express its
| views.
| 1t will not be ambitious 10 commend tselfto the
| people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
| seek public support by the bold avowal of the
4 sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| Democracy Of the Union, and by the coDdemna.
i ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
! States. - ~ Ees ~
The SENTINEL will maintain, q Fundamental
truth Of that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitnton compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation of all
others to the States, TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaiion OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent o'
their own creation.
| The SENTINEL viii uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constituton-andt thus by sedulously guarding
the latter il will the more effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SKNTINRL will take as
the rnciples Of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the O. institution, according to strict and fair in
terprc, ton Of its language and spirit and that il
shall ne seek to attain indirectly an obectthrough
the exel Use of constitutional posccr for the direct
attainme Of which it has no delegation IF pOr0eT.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no 'urpose, except snch as is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution. ti
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. Il will labor to
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 concerns-while il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing tho foreign policy
Of the country to the promotion OF the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
correspond
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srlotest
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. E Nt t
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 restlessncss of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self tFN @th --s1
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid it in the affairs OF other coun
tries uniess 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 unfriendy 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 defensive IL must sometimes be
oppareutlp aggressipe Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
Anne rcan power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have II. 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 a colony, and
worn-out, anarchcal despotism We are the
ony people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, il washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized LIE, and 70
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. A continent, TO great extent, IN
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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 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 barbarsm and supersti-
ton Of the millions efthe world. And shall such
people refuse 20 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon tho high mission to which II ia calleds
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny. $40 .s.4......a..... ..ao
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and nnimrcachable good faith OF the country. To
be Respectable at nome ana aDroau ana 10 DC great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that Is
wrong. 1t must he liberal and magnanimous to
tho rights of others, and firm and IInmcveabe in
insisting on Its own. II aa-s !. sns.- he true TO
its interests, rights, and honort cannon then
be false 10 those of other nations. 60
Such, then, il the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free we shall cndeavor
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 F'''-.
| To our future brethren Of the press we extend
tho hand Of friendly greeting The Sentinel - inc
| rival of no press OF its own party-the personal
enemy Of none Of the othcr s.t.g.4
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il into power;
/ and in it's honest labors to attain such an end y
| will find the SrSrrrxL It's friend and coadjutor.
IT ATGsR YEARS, ny the Author Of . the
| IL Old House by the RIVER"
Mr.. Rutherford's Children second volume.
\ n-Lli~s c~,c. th~ .otr Qhnrxr Mi.cella