Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-07
PROSP ECTU S


DER ths hame oI Inc WASHINGTON SENT
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes Oft Democratic parry Of the Uaaited States
il 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 lis opinions and express lis
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itselfto the
people by blind hattery 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-
sttution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation Of all
others 10 the States or 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 OF
their own creation.
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, II will the efectually 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 10 strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek 10 attain indirectly obectthrough
the exercise of constitutional poorer for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation of poscer.
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
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:--tha 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 TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic coneerns-whle 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 it.
The SENTINEL viii advocate such progressive.
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist wthth strctest
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 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries unless 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 infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, Ly
war;
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive
but TO be property defensive, i must sometimes be
apparently aggressive 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 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 WORKOUT, anarchical despotism. We are the
only people whose own land without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans oil
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ourfacilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. continent 10 great extent I'M
explored and exhaustless IN lis yet hidden wealth
is at our feet. Europeantrade seeks the great East
through avenues which are. at our doors, OF 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 whitening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings 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 10 lay hold upon their destiny. and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
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 arbter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a Bold
md earnea foreign policy, such as the condition OF
he country demands; but IL will advocate il under
he flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlsss ho.oor
and unimpeachable good faith of The countr. IT.
De respectable at home and abroad and IL he ores,
"a the eyes of the world, il must ask for nosh;no
1ut what is right, and submit to nothing thai Z
wrong. Il must be liberal and marnanimous 20
he rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine be true 10
Is own interests, rights and honor-it cannot tben
'e false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall b. |
Juided Independent and free, we shall endeavor |
o be honest and truthful. The true friends y, |
democratic principles we shall cordially sumner, |
md defend. lis enemies IN the field or in ambnsb
We shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de.
lounce.
To our future brethren of the press we extend
he hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
ivai OF no press OF It's own party--thc personal
nemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
est wishes for its success in the establishment OF
he great principles upon which il came into power;
nd in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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