Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-09
P ROSP EC I u s
). w ASHINGTON SENTINEL. !.

/ Il ION, IN september, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTL
MEL
| In dong so, II is proper | should make known
| the principles i will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
i II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
clpes OF the Democratic party Of tie United STATE,
II does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
| ment OF the Government except in so far az an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF thai
/ party may represent ts opinions and express is
| views.
| II will not be ambitious commend itself The
| people by blind fattery of their rulers II will
| seek public stpport by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| democracy of the Union, and by the condeinna,
| uon OF all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek TO
be (and will endeavor to deserve the, ,itle) the
| organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States
The SENrIsEL will maintain, as fundamental
trnih OF that great party, that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification of the Con
| stituton a compact; by which, also, they cr.ated
| the Federal Government and delegated 20 i,
n their commons agent the powers expressly
| specified in il, with explicit reservation cf all
others 10 the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usnrpation Of the
reserved authority Of the States by he agent III
ther own creation.
Il The SENTINEL will uphold and defend The Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States-under
| the Constitution--and thus by seduiousy guarding
the latter il will the more eifectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
| With regard TO the exercise the powers of the
| Fel eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
| the rnciples of its action that Congress shall ex-
| ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according TO a strict and fair in
| terprel ton Of its language and spirit; and that il
shall nt seek to attain indirectiy IN object through
the exel Use of constitutional yosoer, for the direct
| attainme OF which il has delegation of poicer.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such is clearly in
tended byth Constitution
| In respect 10 the internal administration OF the
Government the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. IL will labor to
| inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:--lhat 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 eoncsrns-while il 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, aud
honor OF the States composing il. -.
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 liberalty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
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 restl.ssness of others, com
M tn nj hns dew cd
| self.
Our settled determination lc repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt 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
or colonial policy which infringes upon rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, he defensive,
but 10 be properly defsnsfpe. Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressivs Our administration should
be vigant, 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 contine MT, with neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica 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 essential TO civilized life, and to
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour 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
| IL al feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
/ be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
4 Africa, and the isles Of the sea- lying all around
1 Us, look 10 MS 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, des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
tion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
/ A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, musi
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world as well as the peaceful arbiter Of Its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnesf foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but Il will advocate II under
the flag OF the country--nowher2 else. Its foreign
/ policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
/ and unmpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at 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 magnanmous 10
1 the rights OF others, and firm and lmmoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honort cannot then
| be false to those OF other nations.
Such, then, is the char, by which shall be
guided. Independent and free we shall endeavor
/ to be honest and truthful The true friends o
| 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 its own party-the persona
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has oui
test wishes for its success in the establishment o
the great principles upon which II came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
4 ATER YEARS, by the Author of ssths
L. Old House by the RIVER