Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17
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OF THK N N#Li .tM
wv ASHINGTON SENTINEL, >,

MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate s3s tteR 43teg
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove ernment, except in so far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views a@93
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t 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-
uon 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. rEs !h. Heta,
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,
stitution compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 II,
as 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, usurpation 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 sedulousy guarding
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former. .a '.5s
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples 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
terprc, ton of its language and spirit; and that it
shall nj seek to attain indirecly an object through
the Use Of Constitutional poscer, for the direct
attainme Of which il has no delegats0n Of poorer.
In other Words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, 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 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 10 exercise
power and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment Of all their domestic eoneerns-while it 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 il.
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-
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 restlessness of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tres uness 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 infrnges upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defensIre, II must sometimes be
apparently aggressips 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. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have IT. 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 a continent, with neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical 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 progrcss-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 at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asa,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us look TO 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 des-
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 10 which II is called
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF It's
destiny.
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachabe good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be great
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanmous "a
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable In
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true "a
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 no press OF It's own party-the persona
enemy of none of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment o
the great principles upon which Il came into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
" ArEn VEARG nv the Aufhor of 90 TN .