Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-24
PROSP E G IT S
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL"

.wASHINGIONS SENTINEL"
r PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
1 ton in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy IL
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party o Tie United States
il does not propose 10 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 its opinions and express lis
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itself TO the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. II Will
seek public s4pport by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which common to 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 TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tite) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth great party that States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF tle Con
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to u,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
Others 10 the States, or'to their separate govern
menls The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaten Of the
reserved authority OF the States by the agent -
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon The basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constituon--and thus by seduonsly guarding
the latter, il will the more eiIectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL. will take a.
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has moi been delegated by
the G, institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall nt seek to attain indirectly through
the exei Use of constitutional poacer, for the Girsc
attanme of which il has no delegataon Of poper.
In ether words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no mrpose, except such as IS clearly IN
tended by th 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
ternal policy this Government will besi
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 10 the individual States the manage
nent of all their domestic concerns-whe it 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 ii.
The SENTINEL. will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as 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 firmness 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 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 TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, viii
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 a foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly dfe'sfue, il must sometimes be
dppdreatlv 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. Ii is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have H. 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 occupyahe best portion
of a continent, with neighbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We 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 lfe and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ourfaclties 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 exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our 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 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 barbarism and supersti-
ton OF the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called?
A mission So full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger 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, Dut IL VIII duNoCdte ~ uhutr
the flag ofthe couniry--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 magnanmous 10
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveabe 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
to be honest and truthful The truo 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 Of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end y
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.