Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-26
Pr OSP EC 7 u s
.WAsnINGTON SENTINEL

/ ton, in September, a political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL
In doing So II is proper | should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples of the Democratic party Of tho Urted 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 its
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery 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 condemns
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the ttle) 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
stitution compact; by which also, they created
The Federal Government and delegated To Il,
= their common agent The powers expressly
specified in il, with Nh explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States. or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, il, therefore, an usurpation Of the
reserved authority of the States by the sgen, ~
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis OF the rights of the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
efcis power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution, according TO strict and fair in
terpre. ton of its language and spirit; and that il
shai nt seek TO attain indirectly an objectt through
the exe Use of constitutional poaoer for the eireei
attanme of which il has no dslsgatiOn Of poacer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
nsed for no ,urpose, except such as Is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect TO the internal administration of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna 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 domestic 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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as wiflsuit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
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 restlessness of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries anleSs by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endsn
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, by
war !
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dcfensfUe il must sometimes be
ay,parentlv aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiant 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 it. We cannot
avoidi il we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out anarchical 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 tc
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
is al our feet European trade seeks the great East
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 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 supersti-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called?
A mission so full Of hope, though laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, mus,
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and EARNEST foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but IL will advocate II under
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at 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 magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true TO
its interests, rights, and honor-lt 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. 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-tbe personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which II came into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.