Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-22
P ROSP EC 7 u s
WASHINGTON SENTINEL

/ Nv SEN H.
PROPOSE 10 publish in the city OF Waslina :
i ton, in September political newspaper, an
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL
In doing So II is proper | should make known
| the principles il win 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 Government, except IN so far an in
i dependent maintenance OF the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express IFS
4 views.
/ II will not be ambitious commend itselfto the
l people by blind fattery Of their rulers. 1t will
seek public lpport by the bold avowai of the
sentiments which common to the genuine
| Democracy OF the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such may conflict with them from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek 10
| be tand II will endeavor 10 deserve the te) 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
sttution "A compact; by which, also they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO Il,
| az their common agent the powers expressly
| specified in il. with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of sny powers beyond these
| thus delegated, is therefore. usurpatop ot the
| reserved authority OF the States by me a4cu o.
| their own creation.
/ The SENTINEL will uphold and defend he Union
/ upon the basis of the rights Of tho States--under
| the Consttution--and thus hy seduIously guarding
/ the latter, il will the more effectnallv strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
] With regard TO the exercise OF the powers of the
| FeL .ral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples of it's action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercs no power which has not been delegated Nv
the c, institution, according TO strict and fair IN
erpre, tion of its language and spirit; and thai IL
shall seek to attain tnairoctly an object through
the exei Use of constitutional popey for the .fSsct
attainme of which il has no delegation Of 1'ofser
4 In other words, all powers exercised must be
1 clearly gra ted and all granted powers mus be
used for no ,urpose, except such as - clearly in
tended by III Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration oi the
/ Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. II will labor to
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
i terna policy:-ihat this Government will best
/ promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
| power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving TO the individual States the manage
| ment of all their domestic coneerns-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 IT.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
/ foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigehcles,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
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. viii
| 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 restessness of others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other coun
tries, nnless by their foreign colonial policy
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 infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
| dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remoDstrance, and II need he, y
/ war
i Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defcnS5pe, 4 must sometimes be
4 apparently aggressive. Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full of important movements, commercial and
1 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 its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continen MT with neighbors but colony, and
| q worn out, anarchical despotism. We are the
| olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
| tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
/ the world. Our agricultural productions are
varied and more essential to civilized life and To
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
/ resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
i Internal and foreign commerce more extended
i than those of any other people living under
government. A continent, 10 great extent, un.
/ explored and exhaustess In its yet hidden wealth
s al our feet European trade seeks the great East
1 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 as the rising power, through the
i 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 supcrsii.
tion 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 full Of hope, though 80 laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make confederscy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, well the peaceful arbitcr Of it,
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest toreIgH policy, such as 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
/ and 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 TO nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and msgnanimous TO
| the rights Of Others and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honorii cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
i Such, then is the chart by which We shall be-
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
| to be honest and truthful The friends Of
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend It's enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de
\ nounce.
/ To our future brethren Of the press extend
the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival Of press OF is own party--the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has
est wishes for its success in the establishment
the great principles upon which il came into power,
and in its honest labors TO attain such end j.
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor