Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-28
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
~W ASHINGTON sENTINEI..v

| MEL.
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United STATES
II does not propose 10 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.
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
| people by blind fattery Of their rulers. 1t will
| seek public support by the bold .avowal of the
sentiments which are common 10 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 land it 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 StateSormed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO IT,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in 1t, 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, 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 States-under
the latter, il will the more effectually 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 it
shall not seek to attain indirectly an obiectt through
the exercise of constitutional posoey, for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of po,oer.
/ In ,thn Ic all -.
clearly granted and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such 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. 1t 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 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy 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 frmness with liberality
|
| 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 restlessness of others, a COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self.
| Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, unless 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 unfriendly 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 defens,oe, It must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfuI, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power II is time we had American
foreign policy. We must have it, We cannot
avoid it if 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
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
olny 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, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is al 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 TO us as the rising power, through the
| agency OF whose example, and es widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings OF liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
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 il is called?
A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world as well as the peaceful arbiier of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such 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 unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and to 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 10
the rights OF others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its II must, in fine, be true to
its interests, rights, and honort 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. It's 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-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 il came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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