Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-22

! der the name OF the WASH HiNGTON SENTl
! MEL
the principles il viii maintain and The policy i
/ will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples ofthe Democratic payty Of tie United State,
il does not propose 10 be the organ Of any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnmenl, except IN so far an In
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
/ party may represent It's opinions and express IFS
! views.
! IL will not be ambitious 10 commend ltseltto the
| people by blind hattery 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. IL will seek 10
| he (and il will sndeavor TO deserve the titlel the
| organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain az fundamental
truth OF that great party hat The States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con
Stitution as compact; 10y which also they created
| the Fedora Government and delegated a. 4,
a. their conmon agent, the powers expressly
specified 10 il. with explicit reservation OF all
others 70 the States or TO their separate govern
ments The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, nsurpation ot the
reserved authority of the States by the agent ~
heir own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold aud defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the Slates-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulonsly guarding
the latter. il will the more efactualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise OF the powers ofthe
FeL sral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has mol been delegated by
the G, Institution, according TO strict and fair IN
ierprei ton of its language and spirit and that il
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly objectthrough
The exe Use of constitutional poaoer for the srecf
II h,s
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose except such ~ - 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
incucate 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 TO exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment OF all their domestic conceras-while il 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 a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
aud correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cded; but should temper 6rmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the sTictest
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
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, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repe interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, security endan
gered, or our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights.
nnd places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted BY remonstrance. and, if need be, sy
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
bat 10 he properly dcfeaSiUe, IL must sometimes be
apparently aggresSpe. 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 cannoi
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 NO neighbors but colony, and
q 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 more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and tc
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 contiaent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhsuslless IN its yet hidden wealth
IL feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through our own limits Europe, ASA,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
as 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-
tIued TO triumph over the barbarsm and supersti-
lion 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 called?
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, " properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well ns the peaceful arbiter Of lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such az the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate 1t 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 homie and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world il must ask for nothing
but what il right and submit TO nothing that is
wrong. Ii must be liberal aud magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
it, own interests rights, and honor--t cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall ne
guided. Independent and free, 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 extend
the hand of friendly greeting The Sentinel Is the
rival Of press OF its own pauy--thc personal
enemy OF none OF the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
est 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 coadJ Jutor.
! A,.sh ..E, fl,..