Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30
PROSP E G u S
Of THE
WASHINGTON SENTINEL

| MEL.
In doing so, /, is proper should make knowa
| the principles il Will maintain, and the pohcy
| will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party Of He United StateS
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnment, except IN SO Tar as an ~
| dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF that
| party may represent lis opinions and express its
/ views.
Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itselito the
/ people by blind lattery of their pulers. II wall
seek public support By The bold avowai OF The
sentiments which are common 10 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 VIII seek TO
| be land il will endeavor TO deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party ot the united
| States.
| The SKSrINRI Will maintain, as fundamental
truth ofthat great party that the Stntes formed me
/ Union between them by The RATIFICATION 81 the o.,
stituton compact; by which al-.), Ih-y created
| the Federal Government, and delegated - =,
\ a. their common agent, the powers expressly
| specified in il, with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States to their separate govern
Dents. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaion OF the
| reserved authority Of the States by the agen, -
/ their own creation.
1 The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights Of the States--under
| the Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter il will the more eHec;ualy strengthen
| ard perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers of the
| Fec era Government the SENTINEL will take as
the rincples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
/ ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, nsttuton, according 10 strict and fair IN
terprel tion of its language and spirit and that il
shall seek 10 attain t1tatrectfY an obJectthrough
the cxei Use of constitutional po1cer for the airec
altainme Of which has no delegation Of poncer.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no urpose, except snch as > clearly IN
| tended by III Constitution.
In respect to 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:-ihat this Government will besl
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
Of the States by being less ambitions 10 exercise
| power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic oonceTns-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 il.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
/ foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exlgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
/ country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper hrmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strietesi
/ principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be lis guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
i pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age i
| essentially aggressive In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
4 and the ambitious restlessness Of Others com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
/ r. 4 upraE 1l
prompt Us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, zlsSS by their foreign or colonial policy our
! peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, our interests invaded, For when the
! aSh interests of other nations prompt foreign
or Colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights,
| and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
1 be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, Ey
/ war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly detensipe, II must sometimes be
| app0rsRtig aggTcSSiUe Our administration should
| be vigilant watchiul, and energetic. The world
| il 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 il we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and IT'S destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent with no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchical despotism We are the
| OlTV people whose own lanu, WITHOUT GODnlhI ut-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
| varied and more essential to civilized life, and r.
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity Tor
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people living under
government. A continent, to great extent, IN.
explored and exhsustless in its yet hidden wealth
| il al our feet European trade seeks the great East
\ through avenues which are at our doors, or must
-, Ia skr t.,rh limits IirOn 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 10 triumph over the barbarsm and supersti.
| ton of the millions OF the world. And shall such
| a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which i is called3
| A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter of ts
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest fOrctgR policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but IL will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
/ aud unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
| in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
| but what Is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
!
the rights OF oth,rs, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on It's own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights. and honort cannot then
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-
| 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 ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end Il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of :" the
La Old House by the River
/ ~ - - 1hld