Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15
PR OSP ECTU s
.sWAsHNCTON SENTINEL.

w Il
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
It 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 in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
| party may represent its opinions and express lis
views. tf 3i.11
i il will not be ambitious 10 commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public s.ppor by the bold avowal of the
| sentiments which common 10 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. IL will seek TO
be (and ii will endeavor to deserve the tie) the
I organ of the Democratic party OF the United
! States. sar MEe
| The SENTINEL will maintain, az fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stution as compact; by which also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 H.
/ az their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il, 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, usurpaton of the
| reserved authority Of the States by 'hr agent OF
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis OF the rights of the States-under
|
| the latter it will the more edectuay strengthen
1 and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples Of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c, Institution, according 10 strict and fair in
erpre, ton OF its language and spirit, and that il
shall nI seek 10 attain indirectly an object through
the Use of constitutional po,cer, for the direct
attainme of which il has no dsLegati0n of p0scer.
| 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 th Constitution.
In respect 10 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 policy: that this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity Of Ihe 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 c0ncerns-whie 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 IL.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper 6rmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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 restlrssness Of others, com
mon motive colonial extension has developed
/ self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unsss 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
or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights.
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfricndy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be- by
| war
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but To- be property defensive, il must sometimes be
| apparently aggTessfpe. 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. IL is time we had an American
i foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il ii 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 neghbors but a colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica despotism. We are the
| ouy people whose own land, without colonial de-
1 tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
i the world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ouriaci aud capacity Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
Than those of any other people living under one
4 government. A continent, TO great extent un-
| explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il al our feet European trade seeks the great East
/ through avenues which al our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles OF the sea, lying all around
| Us, look 10 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 TO triumph over the barbarism and superst-
tion OF the millions Of the world. And shall such
| people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO which II Is caledf
| A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will. therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands but II will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of Others and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-itcannot 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 Sentinel is the
rival Of no press OF is own party-the personal
enemy of none OF the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for It's in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor