Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-20
PROSPECT P TUS
..wAsUvNcToN sENTTNEI.

wv AsHINGTON SENTINEL"
PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
j. ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der The name Of the WASHINGTON SENT.
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 prin
cpes Of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnmen, except in SO far 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 itself TO the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Ii will
seek public kIpport by the bold avowa 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 it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States H3r
Y The SENTINEL will maintain, . fundamental
truth ofthat great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stituion q compact; by which also they created
the Federal Government, aud delegated TO IT,,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in H. with an explicit reservation of all
others the States, or To their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore. usurpaton OF the
reserved authority of the Ststes nv the 4g-nt ot
their own creation a t sJ
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States es--under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the efecinsly strengthen
aud perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government the SENTINEL. will take as
the rinciples its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has moi been delegated by
the C, Institution according strict and fair in
terprel ton of its language and spirit; and that it
shall mt seek.to attain indirectly object through
the Use of Constitutional poscer, for the direct
attainme Of which it has no delegation Of poaoer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers mus, be
used for no ,urpose, except such is clearlv in
tended by tn 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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-lhat 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 concerns-while il 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 a 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 hberality,
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 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 - t-4 f4
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to 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, or our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt q foreign
colonial policy which pfringes 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 defenslue II must sometimes be
apparentlv aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL is time we had an American
u.
avoid it II 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 neghbors but a colony, and
q worn-out, anarchica despotism. We the
olny 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 essential to civilized life and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastourfacilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government A continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN 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 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, dcs-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism 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 il is called?
A mission SO full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny. 4sr ~
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition of
the country demands; but il will advocate under
the flag ofthe country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
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. 1t must be liberal and magnsnimous to
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
its interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, them s 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. NN.+3
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 came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.