Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-14
PROSPE EC TU rs
OF THE
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL

der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy 1t
will advocate. Ht
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
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 tar as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
II will not be AMBITIOUS TO commend itselfto the
people by 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 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 an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, an 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 States-under
the Consttution-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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to a strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that it
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise Of constitutional ower, for the direct
attainment of which it has allegation of poaoer.
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. ra
In respect TO the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy OF the Democratic party II will labor TO
nculcate 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 cconcerns-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 il.
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-
cided; but should temper irmness with hberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the 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 restlessness of Others COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, uniess by their foreign colonial policy 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 nfringes 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, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensive If 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 IL. We cannot
avoid il 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 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 IL
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. continent, TO a great extent, un
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 TO us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
ana unlnpenchaDie ROOu lalln Oh tue country 10
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. IL must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own Ii must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-it 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. 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 itcame into power;
and in its honest laboFs TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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