Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-19
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| IL ton, in September, political newspaper un.
der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL .r. .t,,s@f Nh 7l
In doing so, IL is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate Q Rest ts,sa
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
II does not propose 10 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 It's
views. Es,f. a
/ II will not be ambitious to commend itsefto 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 condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and II will endeavor TO deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth oftha great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
sttution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified IN IT, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or to their separate govern
Inents. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaton of the
reserved authority of the States hv the agent ot
their own creation
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis OF the rights of tho States-under
the Const,ution--and thus BY seduousiy guarding
the latter, it will the more effactnaly strengthen
and perpetuate the former. ~
With regard to the exercise Of the powers of the
Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples Of its action, that Congress shall
ercisg no power which has not been delegated by
the G, nsttution according TO strict and fair in
erprei tion of its language and spirit; and that il
shall nc seek 10 attain sndsrecty ctthrough
the exei Use OF constitutional po,Der, for the irccf
attainme of which il has no dele gGtion Of po,cey
In other words. all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such 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 Il will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-that this Government will bes,
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 domesttc concerns--while il
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
and correspond with the expanding interests ofthe
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
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, com
x.~ts.Ks ~.tD IL
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, nniess by their foreign colonial policy
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 a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, BY
war
Our foreign policy shouiu, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly detSnsive, i must sometimes be
apparently aggressirs Our administration should
be vgilant, 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 il. We cannot
avoid il if 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 contne nt with neighbors but a colony, and
. 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 10 civilized life, and 10
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and ca apacity for
internal and foreign commerce more. extended
than those Of any other people living under
government. A continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il al 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 10 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. des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarisIn and supersti
tion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
| a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called?
A mission 80 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace to
| the world, as well 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 II will advocate Il under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachablc good faith Of the country. To
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. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
| the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honorit cannot then
| be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which shall be
guided. Independent and free, 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 de.
nounce.
To our future brethren of the press extend
the hand OF friendly greeting The Sentinel is the
rival Of no press OF its own party-the personal
enemy Of none Of the other. ~
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power
| and in it's honest labors TO attain such end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjuior
II ATER YEARS, py the Author Of :. the