Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-15
PROSPE TU S
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL

/ =
| r PROPOSE 10 publish in the city OF Washing
| j ton, in September, political newspaper, nn-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI;
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy IL
will advocate. ara
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States.
il does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in SO far in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend tselft to the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 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-
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and will endeavor 10 deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, a fundamental
truth of that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con-
sitution as compact; by which, Also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO 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
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL viii uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-nnder
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
depreciation Of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly an obectthrough
the exercise of constitutional potcer, for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation of poacer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. 1t will labor to
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna policy 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 domestic concsyRs-whe 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,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cded; but should temper irmness with lberality
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 will
pursue. M
| 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, a com
| mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self M v.
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid in the affairs of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endari-
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
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be property detensipe it must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. 1t is time we had an American
foreign policy We must have il. We cannot
avoid it 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchcal despotsm. We are the
only 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 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
III of any M hnr
government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through 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 supersti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which il is called?
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 as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe counry-nowhere else Its foreign
and unimpeachable good faith the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that il
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on its own. Il 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 we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endcavor
to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles we 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
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the grea, principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such end it
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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