Washington sentinel., 1854-05-07
PROSPE ECTU S
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL
OF THE

L i'll
| 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 il
will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cples Of the Democratic party of the United States.
il does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government except in so far as an ln-
/ dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
| views
| II will not be ambitious to commend tselft the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
l sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such 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
i 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-
i stution compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an 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 usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation f@#H
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 efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action that Congress shall
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 II
shall not seek attain fndirectiy object through
the exercise of Constitutional po,cer, for the direct
/ - h,b a has ,f.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as rs 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 poicy:-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 10 preserve liberty; and
| by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic coRcernS--while 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 will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
L
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles of justice The real interests of the
country, up'n each occasion demanding attention,
will be lis 5i.ile in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
Il essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
| and the ambitious restlessness of others,
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
l. - . ( d. y.
/ Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, Will,
prompt us to avoid il i'm the affairs of other coun-
tries uniess by their foreign or colonial policy
| 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 nfringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce n
| dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war. TIKI a-
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but 10 be property dteRStre, it must sometimes be
| apparently dggressire Our administration should
| be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
4 is full OF important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
| American power. 1t is time we had an American
i foreign policy. We must have 1t. 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
| wOrn-Out, anarchcal dcSpotlSl1 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 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 extended
| than those Of any other people living under
| government. continent, TO great extent,
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is ut feet. European trade seeks the great East
L W nr nj Or nluS
| 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 des-
tined 10 triumph the barbarism and supersii-
tion OF the millions 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 confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unmpeachable 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 TO nothing that Is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights of Others and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, IN hne be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor--t cannot then
| be false 10 those OF other nations.
Such them is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeayor
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends
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--thc 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 II came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.
TERMS: For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN ad.
vance. For the Tri-weekly, So year 10 single
subscribers, and 10 clubs persons subscribing for
- ,,,,r., comics NJ the rate of For ,l,.,