Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-25
PROSPE ECTU S
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

wv ASHhNGION SfN f.
r PROPOSE to publish in the city Of Washing
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
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's
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend tselfto 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 endeavor TO deserve the title) 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 as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to il,
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 usurpafon OF the
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the efeciually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles its action that Congress shall ex-
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
terpretation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly objectthrough
the exercise Of constitutional poiDer, for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation Of potcer.
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 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty and
by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic coneerns-while it 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 ii.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with hberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
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 OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, a COM
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
iself.
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries UieSs 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 nfringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, ny
war;
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly 6ets7ssivs il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
he vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
s 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
a 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 TO civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour faci fies and capacity Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, to a great extent, I'M
explored and exhaustess IN it's 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
nqs Of liberty civilization and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism 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 TO which it is caLedf
A mission so full Of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the haEbnger OF peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the county. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 70 be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what Is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous 70
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true 10
It's 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 OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend Ifs enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce. fra,
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. sst
The present Democratic Administration has our