Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-16
PROSPE CTUS
.MAsHINGTON SENTINEL


II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
/ ton, in September, political newspaper un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so il is proper I should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
1t Twill support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Government except in so tar as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
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 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 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 II,
| 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 usurpaton 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 Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter il will the more efectuay 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
shall not seek attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional poner for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation of porosr.
| 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 besi
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 coneerns-while il 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 H.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will 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 frmpess with iberality
and make its 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 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
1 l.I.~ n tk.rS
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| iselE
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il III the affairs of other coun-
tries, HneSs 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 remonstranee, and, II need be, by
/ war,
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensive. must sometimes be
| a,,payentiv dggresSipe Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full Of important movements, commercial and
| politi al deeply concerning American trade and
| American power. II is time we had an American
| foreign policy. We must have IL. We cannot
avoid il il 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 a colony, and
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 10 civilized life, and TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vasour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| thaH those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent TO a great extent, un-
| explored and exhaustless IN its 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 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 10 triumph over the barbarsm and supersti-
tion Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 aY bold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called?
| mission so full or hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, il properly directed, must
| make our confcderacy the harbingcr Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest oreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate Il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spouess honor
| and unimpeachable 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. II must be liberal and magnanimogs 10
the rights of others, and firm and mmoEeable in
| insisting on its own. II must, IN fine, be true 10
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. :.,, saa endeavor
I" hs sc.es, anu 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 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 itcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
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