Washington sentinel., 1855-02-14
PROSP ECTU S
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper / should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy II
| will advocate.
! II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes ofthe Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose to be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Cove ernment except in SO far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
i party may represent its opinions and express It's
| views.
! It will not be ambitious to commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowai OF the
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
| be (and il will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
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 i,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others to the States or TO their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
| their own creation.
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
| the Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action, that Congress- shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain imdrecty an obectthrough
the exercise of constitutional poicer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of poscsr
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose except such as is clearly I'M
tended by the Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. Il will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal 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 domesfic 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 it,
The SENTINEL will advocate such a 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 liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the stretes
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 restlessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, vii
prompvsus TO avoid II in the affairs Of other coun
tries, uniess by their foreign or 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 infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfricndy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive ;
but to be properly defsnsive, i must sometimes be
apparently aggressive Our administration should
be vigant, 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 it. We cannot
avoid it 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 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 TO civilized life, and 10
human progress~-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our 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.
lex nlo nd hau ausf eSs m 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 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 TO triumph over the barbarism and supcrstl-
tioR of the millions ofthe world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II is calledf
A mission SO 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 the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
| The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest forstgn policy, such the condition OF
the country demands but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
in the eyes Of the world, it 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 we 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 des
| 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 Of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
est 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 an end "
will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdJutor
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