Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-16
PROSP &c TU s
OF THE
.WAsHINGToN SENTINEL"

der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper ! should make known
the principles II will MAINTAIN, ana the poncy
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes OF the Democratic party Of the United States
does not propose TO be the organ OF any depart
men OF the Government, except in so far as an IN
3ependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent It's opinions and express It's
views.
Ii will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. IL VIII
seek public support by the bold avowai Oh tne
sentiments which common 10 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. II Will seek 70
be land il will endeavor to deserve the tltle) 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 creates
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IL,
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 oi
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter il will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take a
the principles Of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to strict and iar In
terpretation of its language and spirit; and that II
shall not seek TO attain tadrecty an obJectthrough
the exercise Of constitutional potrer, for the dirscf
attainment OF which il has no delegation Of polcer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must he
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 10
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-that this Government viii bes'
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 II 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 as viii 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 iberality
and make It's highest ends consist with the strictest
! principles of justice. The real interests Of the
] country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
| will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL wiil
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 restessness of others, COM
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
! iself
Our settled determination TO repel interference
! from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries uncss 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
dangerous and unlriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, AMI, if need be, Ay
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive ;
but 10 be properly dttensiue, il must sometimes be
apparently aggreSstre Our administration should
be vglant, 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 ii 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
IL
a worn-out, anarchical despoism. 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 20
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 exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
foot Eur trad de pEst le
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 the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
inCs Of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and superst-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II is called Z
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 its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and edTHea foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate it under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country To
be respectable at home and abroad and TO be great
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that "
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must. in fine, De true TO
its own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
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. 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 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 success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in It's honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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