Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-02
PR OSP e G I IT s
or FHE
wv WASHgNGTON SENTINEL, :,

| -
T PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
\ Il ton in September, political newspaper, un-
| der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
| MEL
| In doing so, il is proper ! should make known
| the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate. t-!Aa
IL will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of tie United States
II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove vernment, except so far as an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
| party may represent It's opinions and express its
! views
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itself to the
people by blind lattery of their rulers. 1t 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-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the rati6caliop Of the Con
stitution compact: by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 IL,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in ii, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States, or TO Their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton Of the
reserved authority of the States by he agent OF
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, il will the efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers of the
Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take
The rincpes of its action, that Congress shall
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c, Institutions according strict and fair IN
terprel ton of Its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek to attain indirectly object through
the Use Of constitutional potcer, for the direct
-attanme of which il has no dslegation of poacer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used 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
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
erna policy:-that this Government will best
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
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-whe il con-
tents itself with guarding the conlederacy 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 IT.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exgencies,
and spond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with lberality,
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 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 q nG nj harS m
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries a1ileSS 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 nfringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive,
but 10 be property defcnStUe Il must sometimes be
appore,itiy aggreSSiue. 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 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
II
every other people We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
q 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 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vas--our facilities and capacIyfo Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people, living under one
| nj a cor
explored and exhaustless in lis 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 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
ines 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 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 10
| the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny
| The SENTINEL wi therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition oI
the country demands; but il will advocate IT under
| the dag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
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. 1t must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. Il 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 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 des
nounce.
To our future brethren of the press we extend
the hand offrendly greeting The Sentinel is the
/ rival of no press OF It's own party-thc personal
enemy of none of the other
! The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
! will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
II ATER YEARS, py the Author of :. the
n DlI unusa bv the R1vprr