Washington sentinel., 1856-03-25
Pr ROSP &c t u s
&3Ht OF THE
w ASHINCTON SENTINEL. ;,

4 NV A9HHNGION SEN III Ella -,
| If PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
| j ton, In September u political newspaper, un-
\ der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL
| In doing so, II is proper l should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples the Democratic party of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment the Cove rnment, except in so far as an in
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express IT'S
| views @
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowa OF the
| sentiments which are common TO the genuine
| democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and il will cndeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States. s
The SENTINEL. will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between Them by the ratification ot the Con
sIitution as compact, by which, alse they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 :,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation Of all
others 10 the States TO their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpatiop of the
reserved authority of The States by the agent 81
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 sedulonsly guarding
the latter, il will the more eectually strengthen
aud perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL wil take a.
The principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according to strict and fair in
ierpre, lion of its language and spirit; and that II
-
the exe Use of Constitutional potoer for the direct
attainme Of which il has no delegation Of poscer.
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for no purpose, 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
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 TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestie eoncerns-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 will suit itself to the exigencies
correspond
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cded; but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srlctest
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 sW .na
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, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self 629s3 81
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
=
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defensiUe, IL must sometimes be
apparently Aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiiant, watchfu 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 a continent, with neighbors but colony, and
o 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 more vast-our facilities and capacyf for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 q 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 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 supcrsti-
| ton of the millions efthe world And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission to which IL is callede
| 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 the peaceful srbiter Of its
i destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and eavnss foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but II will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, II must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that 10
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
| the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
| insisting on it's 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 we shall be
| guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
4 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 10 the
/ rival Of no press OF its own party-tbc personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for it's in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
4 and in ns honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SKNrrrrL its friend and coadjutor.
r ATER YEARS, by the Author of "the