Washington sentinel., 1854-04-01
PROSP ECTU s
wv AsHINGToN SENTINEL


the principles it will maintain, and the policy IT
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes of the Democratic party OF the limited States
II 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 oi thai |
party may represent its opinions and express ITS |
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind aattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the |
sentiments which common TO the genuine |
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II viii seek 10 |
be land it will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con-
stitution as compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO It,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpatlon OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL viii uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights OF the Satos-under
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter il 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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
depreciation of IT'S language and spirit and that II
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional polcer for the direct
attainment of which it has allegation Of porcer.
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. 1t 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 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their donestic concerns-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 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-
cded; but should temper firmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
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 resessness of others, COM
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iself.
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges upon rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, Wy
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed be defensive
but to be property dctsasire, it must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vgilant, wachful, 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 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 are more
| varied and more essential to civilized life and TO
| 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 exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth.
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
1 through avenues which 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 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 over the barbarism and sHperst-
4 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?
/ A mission full of hope, though so laden with
i responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbnger of peace TO
| the world, as well the peaceful arblter OF ITS
! destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest toyeigR policy, such as the condition OF
| the country demands; but ii will advocate il under
! the flag ofthe eountry-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To |
be respectable at home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes of the world it 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 immoveablc in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true TO
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 OF
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-
nouncc.
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 or
the great principles upon which il came INTO power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain snch an end il
will find the SENTNELis friend and coadjutor,
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