Washington sentinel., 1854-05-31
PROSP ECT u S
.wAsHINGToN sENTINEL.o

MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of tie United States
il does not propose to be the organ OF any Depart
ment ofthe Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express lis
. views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itself to the
people by blind aattery of their rulers. IL will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
lion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the tille) 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 il,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified i'll il, with explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl 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 Statss-under
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
'terpretation OF its language and spirit and that II
shall not seek to attain iadirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional po1cer for the direct
attainment of which it has allegation 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 tile 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
sinculcate 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 concerns-whe 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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberality
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.
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 restlessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun-
tries a1Ss 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 a foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy mnst
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war. 's
Our foreign policy shond, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensire, must sometimes be
appare7tly aggresSiCe. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu 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 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
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 10 civilized life and TO
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 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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 as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilizations and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and superstl-
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 1t Is called
A 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 arbter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest toreigR policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but II will advocate it under
the flag ofthc country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad aud 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, II must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true TO
its 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 endeavoI
to be honest and truthful. The true friends o
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies IN the field or iii 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-thc personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has oui
best wishes for its success i'll the establishment o
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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