Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-11
PROSPECTUS u s
Nv asHINCToN SENTINEL. -

MEL
! In doing so, ii is proper should make known
| the principles il win maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate
II will supper, cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of ts United States
| il does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
nent of the Cove rnment, except in far as an in
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
| party may represent its opinions and express Its
| views tte
| Il will not be ambitious 10 commend itselflo the
| people by blind laitery of their rulers. II Will
| seek public ipport by the bold avowal of the
| sentiments which are common TO the genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and by the condeinna-
| tion Of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come IL VIII seek 10
| be land it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) 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 compact; by which also, they created
| the Federal Government. and delegated 10 u,
az their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it. with an explicit observation OF all
others TO the States 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore an rirurpaton OF the
| reserved authority of the States ny the agent OF
! their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold aud defend the Union
| upon the basis of the rights Of the States-nnder
the Constituton--and thus by seduiously guarding
the latter, il will the more eaeciualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard 10 the exercise Of the powers OF the
| Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL wall take as
the rncipes 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
terprel ton OF its language and spirit and that
shall nl seek 10 attain tnd1rsctty an through
the exei Use of constitutional porer for the direct
attainme of which it has no delegation Of Poacer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such 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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-ihat this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic eomeerns--whie II con-
| tents itself with guarding the coniederacy rom
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 firmness with beralIty,
and make lis highest ends consist with the stricest
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, Upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL wll
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
| essentially aggressive In tho 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 our domestic concerns, vii
prompt US TO avoid it in the Affairs of other coun
tries Hyless 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 lnfrnges upon our rights.
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonsirance, and, II need be ty
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly detenSfrs, Il must sometimes be
0pparentiy aggreSSfve Our administration should
be vigiant, 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 ap American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il ii 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-out, anarchcal 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 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. A continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
IL al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. ESrope, 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 TO triumph over the barbarsm and superstl-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
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 as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
and earnest foretg,, policy, such the condition of
the country demands; but il will advocate Il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeacbable good faith the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 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 to
the rights of Others and firm and mmoveable IN
insisting on its own. IL 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 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 It's own party--thc personal
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
rest wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end u
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor