Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-02
PR ROSPEC TU s
.WAsHINGTON SENTINEL. -

Il ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTIs
MEL.
In doing So il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples Of the Democratic party of The United States.
it 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 lis
views.
IL will not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
people by a blind fattery 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-
stituton as a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 IT,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpation 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 Consttution-and thus by seduously 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 as
the principles ofis action that Congress shall ex
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
terpretation of its language and spirit; and that
shall not seek TO attain fndirect objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional poacey, for the direct
attainment of which il has no allegation of poicey
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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine Of Democratic in
ternal poicy:-that this Government will besi
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 concerns-while il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
Of the country 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing ii.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencies,
/
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmness with lberality
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 is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
! weakness of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restessness OF others, a com.
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself.
Our settled determination 10 repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, 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, by
war.
| Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive
but to be properly deemsive, il must sometimes be
! apparently aggressive Our administration should
| be vigiant, 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 1t. We cannot
avoid il IL 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 anarchical despotism. 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 to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
A
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
at our 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 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, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarsm and superst-
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 II is called
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace TO
the world, as well as 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 ii will advocate under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unlmpeachabe good faitn OF the country. 10
be respectable at home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes Of the world, II must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
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 honorit 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 we shall cordially support
and defend. lis 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--tho 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 came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL IFS friend and coadjutor.
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1