Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-27
P R EC + q S
Nv asHrNGTON SENTINEL. J,

Nv WASHINGTON SENTINEL"
i i PROPOSE 10 publish in the city Of Washins-
\ IL ton, IN September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl.
| MEL
i In doing so, II is proper 1 should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples 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 an in
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent lis opinions and express its
/ views.
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery 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-
| ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the ttle) 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-
| stitnon as compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government. and delegated 10 Il,
az their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in II. with an explicit reservation OF all
| others to the States, their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, us,rpaiion OF the
| reserved authority Of the States by the agent oi
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| 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 sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate The former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers OF the
| Fecera Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall
! ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according TO strict and fair in
1 IA
shall seek 10 attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional yo,ce, for the Girec
attainme I of which it has no delegation Of pofcey.
| 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 Democratic party. Ii will labor 10
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal poicy:-ihat 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 10 preserve liberty; and
! by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
| ment of all their domestic eozoerns-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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
| cided; but should temper frmness with liberaty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictesi
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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 restessness Of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
/ prompt TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened, security endan
| gered, 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
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defensire, Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
| be vigilani 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
| q worn out, anarchical despotism. We are the
ohay 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 vast--ourfacites and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those OF any other people living under one
A
explored and exhsustlcss IN its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 dest
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 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 ms the peaceful arbiter Of lis
| destiny.
| The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
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 magnanmous to
the rights OF others and firm and Immoveable in
insisting its own. II must, in hne be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-t cannot then
| be false TO those OF other nations.
Such then, is the chart by which shall be
/ guided Independent and free, we shall cndcavor
| 10 be honest and truthful The truo friends Of
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies in the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de
/ Dounce.
To our future brethren OF the press extend
the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival of no press OF lis own party--the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has
test 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 il
/ will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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