Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-06
PR PEG 7 u s
w AsH,NCToN SENTINEL

der the name Of The WASHINGTON SENT.
MEL,
] In doing so, II is proper | should make known
| the principles il will maintain. and The policy /,
/ will advocate.
| Il will support cordially and earnestly the prii.
cipes of the Democratic parry Of The United Star,
il does not propose 10 he the organ Of any Deparr
ment OF the Government except IN 30 far as an IN
/ dependent maintenance Of the doctrines OF that
party may repressn, lis opinions and express III
| views.
/ II will not be ambitious commend Itself 10 IA,
people by blind fatiery of their rulers .It will
4 seek public slpport by the bold ayowal Of the
4 sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| democracy Of the Union, and by the condemns.
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
/ organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
/ 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
4 sttntion a compact by which, also they created
/ the Federal Government and delegated TO u,
a their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, TO their separate govern
| ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond the--
thus delegated, il, therefore, nkufpatlou o. the
reserved authority of the States hy he aeeui ~
| their own creation.
/ The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Uniou
| upon the basis of the rights Of the States-nnder
/ the Consttution--and thus by seduiousy guarding
the latter, it will the more eHectuaily strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise Of the powers OF the
/ Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take az
the rincples of its action that Congress shall ex-
/ ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, usttution according TO strict and fair IN
terprei ton Of its language and spirit; and that IL
shall NJ seek attain indirectiy objectthrough
the Use of constitutional po,0er, for the direct
t1Fx J,T~ s.f
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used Tor no purpose, except such a. ,s clearly m
tended by III Constitution.
! In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government the SENTINEL. will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. IL will labor 10
/ nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy that this Government will bcst
! 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
4 by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic cO1,csvns-5whie 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, and
/ honor of the States composing IT.
! The SENrlvEL will advocate such progressive
| foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
! 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 restessness of others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| self
/ Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt US TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unLss by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan
| gered, or interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which nfringes upon our rights.
/ and places In the pathway of our commerce a
| dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
1 war
| Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive
hut 10 be properly defensire, must sometimes be
/ aypayenfy aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, 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 ii 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
i Of a continent, with neighbors but colony and
/ o worn-out, snarchical 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 10
| human progress-our mineral and msnufacturing
resources more vasour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
is at ousfeet. European trade seeks the great East
1 through avenues which are at our doors, or must
| be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
US, look to the rising power, through the
agency OF whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings Of liberty, civilization, and reigioA are des-
/ tined 10 triumph 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 to which Il is called!
| mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter OF lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnea foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spoiess honor
| and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
4 in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
| but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that -
wrong Il must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights of others and firm and mmoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor- cannot 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 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 its own party--the personal
enemy Of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power:
and in It's honest abors TO attain such an end Il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJuior
r ATER YEARS, by the Author of = the