Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-19
PROSP EC TU S
OF THE
"WASHINGTON SENTINEL

In doing so il is proper / should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy II
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cples of the Democratic party of tile United STATES
il does not propose TO 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 It's
views.
II viii not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II VIII
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which common to 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 VIII seek 70
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) 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 1t,
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 usurpalon 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 Statss-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it 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 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
terpretaton of its language and spirit; and that It
shall seek to attain indirectly an obIectthrough
the exercise Of constitutional otcer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of potOer
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
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. Il 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 cconceras--whie il con-
| tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
| of the country to the promotion { 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 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 hberaiity
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles OF Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upoE Zach 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 restessness OF others, COM
/ mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| iself.
| Our settled determination to repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, VIII,
prompt us to avoid in the affairs of other coun-
tries, uness by their foreign or colonial poHcy 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, ky
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be property defsnsice it must sometimes be
oppayently aggressiUe. 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 it. We cannot
avoid Il 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
a worn-out, anarchcal 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 to civilized life. and to
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more yast-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
s at orr feet European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us look to us as the rising power, through tie
s. eye
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarsm and superstl-
ton OF the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which 1t is called!
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 as the peaceful arbiter OF ITS
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy snch as the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country---nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. 10
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 -
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanihous 10
the rights OF others, and firm and mmoveable III
insisting on its own. Ii must, IN line, be true 10
\
he false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
Guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
70 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
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 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 it came into power;
and in its honest abors TO attain such an end IT
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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