Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-01
P R OSP Il CT q S
Of THE n
NV yAsHINGTON SENTINEL" ,"

/ i FROPOSE TO publish in the city oil WashH1
! J. ton in September, political newspaper un-
/ MEL
| In doing SO, II is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy il
| will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly tue prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of tie United States
II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Government, except in so far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent lts opinions and express lis
views
| IL will not be ambitious 10 commend itsefto III.
| people by blind iattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public Ipport by the bold avowa of the
sentiments winch common TO the genuine
| democracy Of the Union, and by the condelnna-
ton of all snch as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they NAV come II will seek 10
he land il will endeavor 10 deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will MAINTAIN, a fundamental
truth OF thai 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,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified IN IT, with explicit reservation oi all
others 10 the States. or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise. OF any power beyond hes"
thus delegated, is. therefore, usurpaion of the
reserved authority Of the States hv rb@ agent
their own creation
The SENrINEL will uphod nad defend the t'nlon
upon the basis of the rights OF The States--nud-r
the Constitutiou--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efecrualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec sral GOVERNMENT the SENTINEL will take
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has moi been delegated by
the c, Institution according TO strict and fair in
terprel ton of its language and spirit; and thai IL
Il. n.
the i~e of constitutional poioer, for the Iuee
attanme Of which il has no delegatsoH Of po,cer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for no purpose, except such a. is.clearlv N.
tended by IN 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 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 10 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cded; but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictesl
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 of the nations of the Old World,
undth he apahit 0f N her n
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 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
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 defeasive, Il must sometimes be
apparently az gresSive. Our administration should
be vgilant, 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 destlny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of a continent with no neighbors but a colony, and
q worn out, anarchcal despotism. We 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 To
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our 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 eYhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
IL al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which 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 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton 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 so full of hope, though so laden with
i responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
/ destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition oil
the country demands but il will advocate IL under
/ the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unmpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and 10 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 magnanmous 10
the rights OF others, and firm and lmmoveabe in
| insisting on its 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 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 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 our
rest wishes for its success in the establishment Of
the great principles upon which itcame into power
| and in its honest labors to attain such end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjuior.