Washington sentinel., 1855-01-11
PROSPEC TU s
OF THE
@M MASHINGTON SENTINEL.

In doing SO, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
Will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly The prin
cipes OF the Democratic party Of the 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 its
views.
II 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 10
be (and II will endeavor to deserve the tle) 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-
sttution 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 oil
others TO the States, or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, usurpation 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 Constuton-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more eHectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain sndirectiy through
the exercise Of constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of poaoe,
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
Qpd M 10 ol rlu
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to 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 this Government will bes,
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 1t 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 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 liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strietest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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 restlessness of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, viii
prompt us to 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
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, Ay
Our foreign policy should indeed be defensive
but to be properly defensipe, il must sometimes be
apparently aggvessive. 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 II. 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 no neighbors but colony, and
a 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 are more
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
vast-ourfac facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. continent, TO great extent, I'M
explored and exhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 as the rising power, through the
~. and r1IyiHp md
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, are 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 IT is caledt
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as 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 spotless honor
and unimpeachable 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
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 immoveable 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 its own party-ihe personal
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has
hest wishes for its success in the establishment %
the great principles upon which it came into powei;
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEIits friend and coadJutor.
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