Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-04
PROSPE E G T u S
OF THE
Nv wAsHINCTON SENTINEL"

/ ,.sW SICNlINEAls'
/ II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
| i 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 will maintain, and the policy II
| will advocate
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples OF the Democratic party Of te United States
| il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in so far as an In
dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF that
-party may represent its opinions and express its
views
| 1t 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 are 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 will seek to
| be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) 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.
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 70 u,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation OF al
others to the States or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usurpaton OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
/ their own creation.
/ The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constituton--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 ofthe
/ Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall cx-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according to strict and far IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit and that
shall ne seek to alta indirectly object through
the exel Use of constitutional pooer for the 1aret
attainme of which il has no deegGt1on Of poacer.
| In other words all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for no purpose, except such as Is clearly ln7
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 70
| nculcate 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 domestic concerns-while 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 IT,
| The SENTINEL will advocate such a 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 frmness with lberahty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctest
1 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,
| III III a
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, WI
tries unss by their oreg a aslas .. 0ins1 sy
peace should be threatened our security endan
| gered or our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt q 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, II need be, by
war.
/ Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly dsensrre, 1T must sometimes be
| apparently aggressipe. 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 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 no neghbors but colony, and
| a 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 more
varied and more essential TO 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. continent, 10 a great extent un-
| explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is al our 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 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-
1 tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti
tion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO 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 the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
| the flag of the country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless 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 magnanimous 10
| the rights OF others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
it's own interests, rights and honorit 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 shall cordially support
| and defend Its enemies IN the field 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 in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
II ATER YEARS, py the Author Of :. the
IL Old House by the RIVER"