Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-09
PROSPEC G US
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

Il -
the principles ii will maintain, and the policy =
| will advocate
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of tie United States
lii does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
llment Of the Government, exceptn so far as an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of thai
party may represent its opinions and express III
/ 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 to
be (and il will endeayor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
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.
stitntion a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, usurpation of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. Wy.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, il will the more eectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former -4
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
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according strict and fair in
terpretation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the exercise of constitutional poscer, for the diYecf
attainment of which il has no delegation Of porcer.
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 10 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 besi
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
OF the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
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 policy
of the country 10 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 exigcncies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de
| cded; but should temper frmness with hberality
and make It's 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 vii
| pursue.
The national policy Of the world in this age il
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restlcssness OF others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
/ iself
| Our settled determination TO repel interference
| h I,.f,an xrI
| prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries 7trleSs by their foreign 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 niringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfricndly rival such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defenSire, il must sometimes be
| appayentlg 0pgressite. Our administration should
| be vigilant, 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 Il. We cannot
avoid il ii we would. We have larger interests, and
| 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
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. We 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 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. A continent 10 a great extent, un-
| explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
at our feet European trade seeks the great Eas,
through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through our 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
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and superstl-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
n people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
A mission SO full Of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, if properly directed, musi
| make our confederacy the harbnger of peace TO
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
| destiny.
! The SENTINEL viii. therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate il under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotcss honor
4 and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable a home and abroad and TO be great
i'm the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
| but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that il
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
| insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
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 endeavor
| to be honest and truthful. The true friends oi
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-thc personal
| enemy of none OF the other
| The present Democratic Administration has ouI
best wishes for its in the establishment o.
the great principles upon which il came into power
| aud in its honest labors 10 attain such end i
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadju,or.
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