Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-07
Pr OSP E C 7 u s
..WAsHINt:ToN SENT;NE. },

Il Ton, IN september, political newspaper, IN
der the name on the WASHINGTON SENrL
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles Il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
clples OF the Democratic party of the United Stote,
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
IL will not be ambitious TO commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
democracy of the Union, and by the condemna.
uop Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. It will seek TO
be land il will endeavor deserve the title) the
organ OF the Democratic party ot the United
States.
| The SRNTINEL will maintain, u fundamental
truth of that great party, that the States formed ihe
| mon between them by the ratification Of the Con
stution as compact; by which, also they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 It.,
az Their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of ,tll
others TO the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States hy the agent at
/ 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 sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
/ With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a.
he rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the O. Institution, according 10 strict and fair in
terprei ton of its language and spirit and that il
shall nt seek 10 attain sndfTectiy an object through
af nj
lttainme of which il has no deisgation Of p0scer
! In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly IN
| tended by th Constitution.
In respect 10 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
ternal policy:-ih this Government will besf
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 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights and
honor of the States composing il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit 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 berality,
and make its highest ends consist with the stricest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
| The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. in the growing sense OF
weakness Of some ofthe nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restiessness of others, a com-
mon motive 10 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
tries, U'ieSs by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which intringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous aud unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, sy
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be property defensive, II must sometimes be
apparently aggresstUe Our administration should
| be vigant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
| political, deeply concerning American trade and
| American power. ltis time we had an American
| foreign nolicy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il IL we would. We have rgerinterests, and
| a 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
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 u
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
i internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
/ government. A continent, 10 a great extent un
| explored and exhaustless its yet hidden wealth
is At feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
rs, 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, 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 10 which i is called ?
| A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbingcr Of peace TO
the world, as well as me peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest JoragH policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but IL viii advocate Il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
| and nnimpeachable 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 magnanmous 10
the rights Of Others and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in ine be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor- 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 en1eavor
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 we 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 oui
best wishes for its success in the establishment q
the great principles upon which Il came into power
, and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
:.