Washington sentinel., 1855-11-15
? R OSP EC 7 q s
OF THE
.yY SENTINEL :


I PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
L ton, in September, a political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT,
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 the United States
il does not propose 10 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 lis opinions and express lis
views.
Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery 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, 1t will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the DEMOCRATIC party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL viii maintain, as fundamental
truth Of that great party that the STATES formed the
lnion between them by the ratification - the Con
stituton compact; by which, also, they creates
the Federal Government and delegated 10 u,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an nsnrpaton 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 Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more etIectuay strengthen
and perpetuafe the former,
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF The
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take ~
The rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according to strict and fair m
o,Il and fhnfI
shall ne seek TO attain indirectly object through
the Use Of constitutional po,oer for the .trec
attainme of which it has no de6gation Of poioer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such az Is csearlV IN
tended by th 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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will besi
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 10 the individual States the manage
nient of all their donaestic conesrns-while II con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
Of the country 10 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 as 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 frmness with liberaty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
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
olx,nce rof.1 a@f, onff Wnrl1
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, com
mon motive to 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 unless by their foreign 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
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by femonstranee, and, If need he, ky
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive.
but 10 be properly defcns,ve, must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilani, wstchful, 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 If 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, ansrchical 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 TO civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vsst-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. continent, to a great extent i'm.
explored and exhausuess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are nj our doors, 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
ngs Of liberty, civilization, and religion, des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions OF the world. And shall such
people refuse lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which il is called 7
mission so full of hope, though SO laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition of
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world il must ask for nothing
but what is right and submit TO nothing that is
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 TO
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false to 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 Sentinel is the
rival of press OF It's own party--the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.