Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-07
PROSP &c TU s
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL -

II PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, nn
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTt
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
tho principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes Of the Democratic party 0f the United States
il 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 Of that
party may represent lis opinions and express It's
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 common 10 the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II viii seek 10
be and il will endeavor TO deserve the utle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, AZ 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 20 ~
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in II, with an explcn reservation of All
others 10 the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaten Of "e
reserved authority of h- States by the sR-nl ~
their own creation
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Constitution--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
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, institution according TO strict and fair IN
terpre, tion Of its language and spirit; and tha,
hall IN afta
the exei Use of constitutional po1cer, for the 1area
aitanme of which il has no delegation of poaoer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers mnsi be
used for no ,urpose, except such as rs clearly in
tended by tn 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
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ierna 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 concerms--whe 1t 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 exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strletest
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
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 10 colonial extension has developed
self
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, 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 unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensfue, IL must sometimes be
appayently 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 rs time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. 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 continent, with neighbors but a colony, and
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
ony 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 Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour 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 exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is al feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al 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 overwhelming and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
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?
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest orNgn 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 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, ii 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 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 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 we extend
the hand of friendly greeting The Sentinel rs 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 oil
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
ATER YEARS, Dy the Author of the
IL Old House by the RIVER
Mr. nth