Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-08
PROSP E CT u S
..w WASHINGTON SENTINEL

| der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
| MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
| Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
it 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 It's
| views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend iiselfto the
people by blind aattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
| sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
| ,on of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II VIII seek 70
be (and will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth ofthat great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
sDtution compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 I,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore an usurpatiou Of The
reserved authority Of the States hy the agent o'
heir own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend The Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulonsy guarding
the latter, il will the more efectually strengthen
ard perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers of the
Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take "a
the rincples OF its action that Congress shall rx-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c, Institution, according TO strict and fair m
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that II
shall nI seek to attain andirectLy an obectthrough
the exel Use of constitutional po,oer, for the 9rec
Of ~ baS mr. DT
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except snch as 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 TO
ineulcate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic In
terna policy:-lhat 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 eoncrns-while 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, and
honor of the States composing IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 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 It's highest ends consist with the strctes
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 restessness OF others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, VIII
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries nnlesS by their foreign or 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 infringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive,
but to be properly defensive IL must sometimes be
apparentlu 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 IL 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 neighbors but colony and
a worn-oui, anarchical degpotism. 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 more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. 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 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 us 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 barbarsm and supcrsti-
ton of the millions OF the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 10 which IL is calledi
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10.
the world, 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 II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Qt 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 immoveabe in
| insisting on It's own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-t 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 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
1 rival of no press OF lis own party-the personal
| enemy of none OF the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il into power;
| and in lie honest labors TO attain such end IL