Washington sentinel., 1854-06-02
PROSPE u S
"wASHINGTON SENTINEL


i PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washings
i ton, in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTIs
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 prn
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of Me United States.
il does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
mcnt OF The Government, except III so far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
1t will not be ambitious 10 commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which 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 (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-
stiluton as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified III il, with an explicit reservation of all
others 10 the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, 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 Statas-under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more 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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to a strict and fair in
tarnr al n ifs LAM and s,irit nj hat
shall not seek TO attain fndreciy an obectthrough
the exercise of constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of po,ccr.
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 10 the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party II will labor 10
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal polcy:--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 10 the individual States the manage
men of all their domestic concerRs--while it con-
tents itself with guarding the conederacy 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 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 firmness with berality
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 i,
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense Q
| nt-nn Nf acfth snffl, Wnrll
| and the ambitious restessness of others, com
| mon motive to colonial extension has develops
| isef.
Our settled determination to repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, viii
! prompt to avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries aRleSs by their foreign or colonial policy on
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 Q
| dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be property detensire il must sometimes be
apparently AGGRESSIVE. Our administration should
be vigant, 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 it 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 a colony and
worn-out anarchical despotsm. We are 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 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 its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 MS as the rising power, through the
agency ofwhose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, des-
tined to triumph over the barbarsm 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 to which it is called?
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our coniedcracy the harbingcr OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate ii under
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable AT home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabc in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor- cannot then
be false 10 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 oil
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and.delend. 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 il tcamc into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end it
will find the SENTIMENTS friend and coadiutor.
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