Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-15
PR OSP EC 7 u :
os THE
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL"

Ger the name o' me "AStiNpION SEN 7
MEL.
in doing 50, II il proper should make know
The principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
il will support cordially and earnestly the prln
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United Stat,
IL does not propose To be the organ of any Depart
nent of the Cove rnment except in far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express ,s
views.
II will NOT be ambitious to commend itseii 10 the
people by blind faltery Of their rulers. II 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-
uop of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. Nat .s
The SENTINEL will maintain, as n fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitntion compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegate "a it,
~ their common agent, the powers expressly
pecifed in il. with explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, usurpa,ion OF the
reserved authority OF 'he State, hv The ag.nt OF
their own creation.
The SRNTIsKL will uphold aud defend the. Union
upon the basis OF the rights of the States under
the Constitution and thus BY seduously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectualv strengthen
and perpe,uate the former.
With regard to the exercise OF the powers ui 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 O, institution according strict and fair in
-hal' seek to attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional pofcer, for the direct
attainme of which il has no allegation Of potoey.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no 'urpose, except such a. is clearly in.
tended by th Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration ui the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II will labor 10
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terEal 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 donnsstie eoncevns-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 ii.
The SENTISEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as 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 frmnes. with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
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 restlsssness OF others, com
II A L. -
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs Of other coun
tries afless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, 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
dange gerous and unlriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by r.monstrance, and If need be, BY
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but To be properly defensive, must sometimes be
appareBth aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilani, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political. deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL 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
OF a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotsm. We are the
oEy 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 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
.Znsan M n nrAn Az nj in.
explored aud e1haustless in its yet hidden wealth
il nj our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are nj 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
ines Of liberty civilization and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
tion OF the millions Of the world. And shall sucn
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II Is calledf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
make our confederscy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiier of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and yoresgH policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and nnimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al 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 is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
he rights OF others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
It's own interests rights, and honorit 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. It's 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 lis own party-thc personsi
enemy Of none OF the othef.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end Il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of :" the