Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-14
P r OSP EC I u S
wv AsHINGTON SENTINEL. J,

| / ton in September a 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.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of Tie Untted States
il does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Government, exceptln so far az an IN
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
| views.
| Ii will not be ambitious 10 CONNIE nd itself 10 the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold avowai OF the
| sentiments which are common TO the genuine
| democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| lion of all such may conflict with them. from
| whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek TO
| he (and it will endeavor 10 deserve the liile) the
/ organ Of the Democratic party of the United
| States. af
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
stitution compact; by which, a'so they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 y,
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, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent ot
| their own creation.
L
upon the basis of the rights of tbs States-under
| the Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter it will the more effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take "a
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex
| ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according to strict and fair In
terpret ton of its language and spirit; and that IL
shall nt seek 10 attain imdirectly an object through
the Use of constitutional poacer, for the direct
| attainme of which it has delegation Of poicey.
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 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
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 ak their domestic co,,cerRs-whlle II 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 progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper hrmness with llberalty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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 restessness of others, a com
l has
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tres unless 10y their foreign 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 a
dangerous and unfricndly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be property defe,isiUe i must sometimes be
apparentiy aggressive. Our administration should
he vigisnt 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 ii we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and lis destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of contine nj, with neighbors but colony and
q worn-out anarchica despotism. We are the
oiny 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 Ia
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, 10 great extent, un.
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
ia 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 10 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 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 TO which II is called J
/ A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed must
| make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter Of it's
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable 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 j.
wrong. II must be liberal and magnsnimous to
the rights Of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
/ be false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
l 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
Il rival Of press OF It's own party-thc personal
i enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for lis success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which Il came into power,
| and in its honest labors to attain such end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJu
| Init, ,fs tha