Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-17
PROSP E CTU s
"WAsHINCToN SENTINEL

der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
It will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples ofthe 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 as an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself TO 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 10
be (and it will endeavor TO deserve the tite) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. 4As Nt'.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton 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, 10 their separate govern
thus delegated is, therefore, usurpation Of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
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
Federal Government the SENTINEL will take as
the principles ofts action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise 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 moi seek attain indirecty object through
the exercise Of constitutional pOoer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of poicer.
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. II will labor 10
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 to the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic coacerns-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 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-
eided; but should temper frmness with liberality
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 the nations Of the Old World,
and the ambitious restrssness OF others, a COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination 10 repe interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered ior 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, If need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be properly defensive, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. 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. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it, We cannot
avoid il IL we would. We have larger interests, and
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF a continent, with no neghbors but colony and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. 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 more essential TO civilized life, and
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 great extent un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s at 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
ngs Of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
tion 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 II is called!
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbter Of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il 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 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 II
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanmous to
the rights of others, and firm and ifnmoveabe 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 we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
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 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 coadIutor.
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