Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-23
PROSPEC &c TU s
OF TliE
"yyAsmNGTON SENTINEL"

l
MEL,
! In doing so il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the pohcy !,
! will advocate.
! II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of ts United States
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
4 ment of the Government except in so far as an IN
! dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
/ party may represent it's opinions and express MS
views.
II will moi be ambitious 10 commend itselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public support by the bold ayowal OF the
! sentiments which common 10 the genuine
! Democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
!. ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
! States.
| The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton compact; by which, also they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation of all
/ others TO the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpation OF the
Preserved 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 sedulously 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 10 strict and fair in
depreciation OF its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional ofeer, for the direct
attainment of which il has no delegation OF poacer.
lead
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 ofthe Democratic party II will labor 10
| incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy that this Government will bes,
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 coRceraS-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.
j 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 shonld be energetic and de-
cided but should temper firmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
principles Of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occss sion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
weakness of some of the nations Of the Old World
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, com.
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself
O,,r s.,,Ial d,,.r,,ino,ion - r,n.l ;n,.rcarapc.
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan-
| gcred, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
| or colonial policy which infringcs upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unlrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, ana, if need be, by
war
! Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be property defc1SIre II must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive. Our administration should
| be vigilant, wstchfa 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
| o 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 dndrCHlCal uespOllsm we are lHc
| 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 TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour 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 cxhaustless its yet hidden wealth
al our feet. European trade seeks the great East
1 4 ich on Or m ct
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
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, des
tined TO 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 10 which Il IS calledi
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign POLICY, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith Of the country To
be respectable al home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes Of the world il must ask for nothing
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, be true TO
its 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 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 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 tcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor
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