Washington sentinel., 1854-07-20
PROSP E CTU s.
.yyAsHINC:ToN SENTINEL.

/ ton, in September, a political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL. 4as
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy 4
will advocate. n
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United Stairs
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
views. 1f-4t ItaHt e 6@Ei
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-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek to
be (and will endeavor 10 deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States. s
/ The SENTINEL will maintain, as a 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 it.
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 o.
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the. States--undet
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 a,
the principles of IFS action, that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated BY
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
terpretation ofits language and spirit and that i,
chs a
the exercise Of constitutional pooer for the dree
attainment of which it has 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. a
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
tcrnal pocy:--ihat 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; ano
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 polio.
OF the country TO the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
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 o
weakness OF some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
isef.
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy ou'
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests OF other nations prompt foreigi
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy mus
be resisted by remonstrance, and If need be, y.
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensire, 1t must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration shoult
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The worlc
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 cannoi
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests ant
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, thar
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, nnarchical despotism. We tn.
only people whose own land, without colonial de.
ie endencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
The world Our agricultural productions nre more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life and. %
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vest-our facilities and capacity foi
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 great extent, mn
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s nj our feet. European trade seeks the great Eas'
through avenues which are at our doors, or mus
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asa
Africa, and the isles Of the sen, lying all around
us, look TO as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
exten ending, though peaceful influences, the bless.
nes Of liberty civilization and religion, are des.
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti.
ton of the millions of the world. And shall sucb
people refuse TO layhold upon their destiny, snd
act upon the high mission 10 which II is called
A mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, il properly directed, mus
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace tc
the world as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL win, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition Of
the country demands; but will advocate il under
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. Tc
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be gres
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that i
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous tC
the rights Of others, and firm and immovcablc II
insisting on It's own. II must, in fine, be true Il
its own interests rights. and honort cannot ther
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall b
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavo
TO be honest and truthful The true friends o
| democratic principles we shall cordially supper
| and defend It's 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 persona
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has oul
best wishes for It's success in the establishment
| the great principles upon which itcamc into power
| and in It's honest abors TO attain such an end !
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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