Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-25
PROSPE &c TU s
.wAsHrNCTpN s SAs sENTINE,

L ~
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the 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 tt rse
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are 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 come. will seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as Fundamental
truth of that great party thar the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of tho Con.
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated to IT,
a. their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in II, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or 70 their separate govern
menfs. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaten 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 Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fecsral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution according to strict and fair in
terpret ton of its language and spirit and that II
shall nc seek to attain iadsrecky an object through
ia IF
attainme of which il has no obligation of pososr
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such as 10 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 mocraiic party II will labor to
inculcate this c, dinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-l at this Government will besf
promote the freed m and prosperity of the people
Of the States by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
mcnt of all their domestic eoncsrns-while 1t com
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 frmress with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strietes
principles of justice. The real interests Of the
country upon each occas sion 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 resilrssness of others, com
II calpntal evfenSiQn has deyelODeu
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
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 infringcs upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfricndly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II noed be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive /;
but TO be properly defensive, 4 must sometimes be
appare,ttiy aggressivs Our administration should
be vigilani, waichful, 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 ii we would We have larger interests, and
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, anarohcal despotism. We are the
ony people whose own land, without colonial de-
fende ncies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and essential TO civilized life, and ic
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 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is feet. European trade seeks the great last
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
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
timed TO triumph over the barbarism and supcrsti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon tho high mission to which II 10 Called !
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, IL properly directed, must
make our confederscy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of iis
DESTINY.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, .uvvv-,.- t~lJ
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il viii advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spoless honor
and unimseachable good faith of the county. 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 10 nothing that Is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanmous 10
the rights OF others, and firm and lmmoveable IN
insisting on its own. II must, ia fine, be true TO
its own 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 endesvor
to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies Ia the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
tho hand OF friendly greeting The Sentinel Is the
rival Of no press OF its own pariy--the personal
enemy of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdJutor.
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