Washington sentinel., 1856-04-03
PR OSP ECT U i
~ AsHINGTON sENTINEi. !,

4 ton in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL
In doing SO, II is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will suppou cordially and earnestly th, pria
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United State>
il does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment Of the Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express IL
views.
Il will not be ambitious to commend itself TO the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they mny come. Ii will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the tite) 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
-titntion as compact; by which, also, they creaIcd
the Federal Government, and delegated Ia a.,
"a their common agent the powers exprcssi.
specified in il, with explicit reservation Of all
Others 10 the States or 70 their separate govern
nients. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usnrpatioD Of the
reserved authority of the States hy the agent o
their own creation.
SENTINEL Will upnOid ana dsIenu the Culoh
upon the basis Of the rights OF the States-under
the Constitution--and thus by sednlonsly guarding
the latter, will the effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Fec .ral Government. the SENTINEL will take
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the C, ustitution according strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek 10 attain indirectly obJectthrough
the Use Of constitutional potoer, for the direct
aitanme of which il has no delegation Of porcer.
10 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 m
tended by tn 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
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 to exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their dom<aie concerns-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, and
honor Of the States composing il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigences,
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberahiy,
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 the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age il
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 repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, Hness 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 q foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce n
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, W
war
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
bur 10 be property d<feHsfve. Il must sometimes be
apparently aggresStpe. 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 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 continent with no neighbors but a colony, and
u worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, il washed by the two great oceans OF
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and IL
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 continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored aud exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through our own limits Europe, Asia,
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-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and suPers'i-
tion Of the millions ef the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II ~ called
mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and eaynesf foystgn policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but Il will advocate under
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
ana unlmpencnaDc EOOu iaitn " tue COuuiFls ~
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that ~
wrong. Il must be liberal aud magnsnimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting its own. IL must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honori cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which shall be
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 we extend
the hand OF friendly greeting The Sentinel is the
rival Of press OF its 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 Il came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end "
will find the SKsTIyKJits friend and coadJutor.
r ATER YEARS, py the Author of the
Il 0lJ uouse Nv the R1vrrr