Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-20
PROSPE 7 U s
OF THE
w ASHYNGTON SENTINEL,

IL ton, IN september, u poiillcdi newspaper, uu
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL.
IN DONG So II is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy i
will advocate
Ii will suppor cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes of the Democratic party Of tie Unttea St0fe'
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depar'
ment Of the Government, except IN so far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF thai
party may represent its opinions and express lis
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend tselfto the
people by a blind flattery OF their rulers II VIII
seek public : lpport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such 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 Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that 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 Il,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of all
others 10 the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond thess.
thus delegated, is, therefore usurpation Of the
reserved authority Of the States hy the agent o.
their own creation.
Inc SENTiNEL VIII NpnOld ana utltHu the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Constituton--and thus bv sedulously guarding
the latter il will the more eHectusllv strengthen
and perpeiuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
FED eral Government the SENTINEL will take a.
The rinciples ofits action that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated tiy
the G, institution, according a strict and fair IN
terpret ton of It's language and spirit; and that II
shall nc seek to attain tndrsctty object through
the exei Use of constitutional poroer for the &recs
attainme of which il has no aeLsgntton 0f posrer.
In othpr words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such is 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
incucate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
ternal policy cy:-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 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic coacerRS-whiie II 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, aud
honor of the States composingit.
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-
cded; but should temper firmness with llberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
principles of Justice The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's 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, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defcHStuo, i must sometimes be
apparently aggTesSive. Our administration should
be vgilant, 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 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
o 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 more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and To
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government A continent 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
i al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which al our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, 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, des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
n people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II IL called
A mission 50 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility. which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate Il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
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 magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true TO
ITS own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 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 is own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its in the establishment Of
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.
L ATER YEARS, py the Author Of the
4 A Old House by the Riverr