Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-25
PROSP EC TU s
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

ton. in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTt
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 ths United States
ii 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 its opinions and express ils
views.
Ii will not be ambitious 10 coiDmend Itself 10 the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public ippor by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will 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 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 10 IL
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, usnrpaton Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent o,
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 edertuaiy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers of the
Fe1 eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples of its action that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its languageand spirit; and that il
shall seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the exel Use of constitutional p0,cer for the direct
attainme I of which il has no delegation IF popey
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such as rs CLEARLY IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II 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 domestic 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 10 the exgencies,
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 it's highest ends consist with the srictest
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
weakne SIS 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 our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs Of other
tries, unless by their foreign OF 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and. il need he, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defensive Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
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 il we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake In the world ana lis ucStlny, tnan
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent with no neighbors but colony, and
q 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 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-
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our DOORS or must
be made through 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 ever widening and
extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty civilization, and religion, des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton 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 II is callcdf 7
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 as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and foyetgn policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but it 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 magnanlmous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor--it cannot then
be false 10 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 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--thc personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest 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 IL
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
r ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of t" the
! IL Old House by the R,ver.n
Mr. Ruiherfords Children, second volume.