Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-12
PROSP ECTU s
awAsHINCTON SENTINEL"

i ton, in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL. 2eq
In doing so, il is proper / should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate. gE.r
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples ofthe Democratic party of the UnHed States
il does not propose be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far as in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express Its
views a svfs. yRa
L Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. twill
| 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. 1t VIII seek to
be land il will endeavor to deserve the. title) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States. ..ns88..d fs.5. fG Yl6e.
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-
stitution compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO 1t,
| as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others to 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 OF
| their own creation. s
| J. The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States--under
| the Consttution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former. 3
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
| Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action that Congress shall ex
| ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according 10 strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that 1t
shall not seek to attain indirectly an object Through
i f~rt th
attainment of which il 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.
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 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 conoerns-while it 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 Il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencies,
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
4 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 restlrssness OF others, a COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination 10 repel 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 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 a
dangerous and unfiendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive I;
but TO be property dfe,tsiUe, Il must sometimes be
apparently dggrsssfve. Our administration should
be vgilant, watchful and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il we would We have larger interests, and
a greater STAKE IN the WOri0 ana It's OeStny, tnan
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF continent, with NO neighbors but colony, and
worn n-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 90 civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
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 us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
inss Of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarsm 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 20 which il is called?
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of lis
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate 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 10 nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
its own Interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations. .nt.'
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. It's enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nouncs. .4s
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 sucoess in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest abors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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