Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-13
PROSPEC TU S
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL


MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper l should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate. sa4t
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
it 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 its
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto 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. II will seek 10
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
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-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IT,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with 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, nsurpaton Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent or
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the Statss-under
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter ii 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 of its 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 II
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise Of constitutional polcer for the direct
attainment Of which it has no delegation Of potcer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted and all granted powers must be
used for 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
incucate 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 concerns--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 1t.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberality
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL VIII
| pursue.
The national policy of the world in this ageis
| essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations Of the Old World
and the ambitious restlessness of others, com.
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iself.
| Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, VIII
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs OF other coun-
tries asnless 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 infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and nnfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy rhould indeed, be defensive !;
but to be properly dtenssve, 1t must sometimes be
appayentlu ar ggvessire Our administration should
be viglant, watchfu and energetic The world
is full of important movements, commercial ana
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have IT. we canno,
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
worn-out, anarchical despotism We are the
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized lie, and 10
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. 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
L.x la tbr ,,rvh nur nxvn
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 ana
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
inas of liberty civilization, and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarsm and supersti-
ton of the millions ofthe world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which 1t is called
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, if properly directed, must
make our confederaoy 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 as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachablc good faith of the country. 10
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
in ,1e eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
bu, what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable In
insisting on its own. 1t must, in hne, be true 10
ts own interests, rights and honor-it 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
10 he 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
,b., hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
r;y, i of no press Of is own party-the personal
enc, nv of none Of the otEer 6
Th. present Democratic Administration mas our
best " ishes for its success in tie estapnsneh, ~
the gre at principles upon which it came INTO power
and in its honest abors TO attain Hcn an eho
will fin,i the SENTINEL its friend and CO soJu'or.
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