Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-19
P ROSP E G l'U
w AsHIN,.TON SENVgNEi.

| i ton, IN September a political newspaper uii,
! der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
| NEI.
| In doing So IL Is proper | should make known
| The principles il vii maintain. and the policy Il
/ 1'ill advocate,
! Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prln
/ cpes OF the Democratic party 0f H@ URhed StutfS
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except III so far a. an IN
1 dependent maintenance of the doctrines oi that
party may represent is opinions and express rs
| views.
| Ii will not be ambitious to commend itself To ne
people by bind hattery of their rulers. IL VIII
seek public !ppori by the bold avowa of the
| sentiments which 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- land il will endeavor 10 deserve the lel the
organ of the Democratic party Of thu United
/ States
/ i'h.. SENTINEL. will MAINTAIN, tuDdAnient !
truth OF great party, that the States formed the
| Union between them bv the ratification o' the Coo
stitutlon a compact: by which also they rr-ar-d
the Federal Government and delegated ~ q
! a. their comgon agent the powers expressly
specified in H. with explicit reservation OF all
others the States, or 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
| thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpatlon Of the
| reserved authority of the States nv the as-at ~
| their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
1 upon the basis of the rights Of the Staies-under
the Constitution-and thus by sednlousy guarding
the latter il will the etfectually strengthen
| and perpetdate the former.
/ With regard to The exercise OF the powers Of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a
The rincpes of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated 10y
The C, institution according 10 strict and fair IN
terprel tion OF lis language and spirit; and that II
shall nc seek to attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional poroe,, for the direct
attainme Of which il has no deiegation of poicer.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such as ls cieariV m
tended by tn Constitution.
/ In respect TO the internal administration of tue
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. II will labor TO
| 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 10 preserve liberty; and
| by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic co'icer7s-Whiie II con-
| tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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 II.
] The SENTINEL will advocate snch progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencles
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 strlctes
| principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
| will be It's guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, unLeSS 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 foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, Wy
war
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
| but 10 be properly defenSive I must sometimes be
| app0reRilV aggressiUe. Our administration should
| he vgilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
| Is inll 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 H. 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
a worn-out, anarchcal 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 10 civilized life, and te
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vas-our facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people >llying under one
| government continent, to- great extent an
| explored and exhaustless IN itA>yet hidden wealth
il al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are AT our doors, or must
be made through our ownlimfts. Europe, Asia,
| Africa and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
| as look 10 us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions OF The world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II is called
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachsble good faith OF the country 10
be respectable al home and abroad, and TO 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 magnsnimous 10
the rights Of Others and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
4 democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies 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 rs own party-the 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 10 attain such an end II
will lind the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor