Washington sentinel., 1855-10-27
PROSP e G I u s
OF THR
"W AsHINGTON SENTINEL


MEL
| In doing SO, i, is proper I 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 The Uted STATES
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in so far an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itself TO the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowai OF the
sentiments which are common 10 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 10
be land il will endeavor to deserve the ute) 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 ratihc al on pi the Con
stitutiou compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated !" II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of all
others to the States to their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated s, therefore, an usurpation 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 Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, ii will the more etectuasly strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers 81 the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take IA
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according TO strict and far ln-
terprel ton of its language and spirit; and that II
shall ne seek to attain indirectly object through
the exel Use Of constitutional pocer for the trec
attainme I Of which il has no delegation Of poncer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for purpose, except such "a Is clearly m-
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 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
ternal policy that this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity oil the people
of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eoncerns-whlle 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 H.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy rs will suit itself TO the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
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 restsssness of others, com
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, wll
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless 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 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 10 be properly defensive Il must sometimes be
| cppoysnflv agQrsssfps 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 il time we had an American
| foreign policy. We must have it. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
| greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
| of continent with neghbors but colony and
q worn out, anarchical despotsm. 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, to great extent, un.
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
IL feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are at our doors, or must
i be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
| Africa, and the isles Of the sea lying all around
US, look TO 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 to lay hold upon their destiny and
/ act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
i A mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
/ responsibility, which, II properly directed nust
/ make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
/ destiny.
i The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but Il will advocate u under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
/ policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unmpeachabIe good faith OF the country To
be respectable home and abroad, and 10 be great
| in the eyes Of the world Il must ask for nothing
bui what is right and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
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 is own party-the personal
enemy Of none oft the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for it's in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power
and in it's honest sbors TO attain such an end II
will find the SRNTI0rr. its friend and coadJutor.