Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-17
P ROSP E G T u S
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..WASHINGTON SENTINEL, !,

y
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 prln
ciples of the Democratic party Of the Uitea States
il does not propose 10 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 lis opinions and express lis
views
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itseflo the
people by blind fattery of their rners. II will
seek public ippor by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II Will seek 10
be land il will endeavor to deserve the tlile) the
organ of the Democratic party ot the United
States,
The SENTINEL will maintain as fundanent'
ruth of that great parry that the States formed the
Union between them hy the ratification OF The Con
sttntion as a compact; by which also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 !,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il. with explicit reservation o All
others TO the States, or 10 their separate gov-rn-
nents The exercise of any powers beyond thes.
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpaticn oi the
reserved authority of The States by the agent oi
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 effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard ta the exercise of the powers ol the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will. take a.
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs no power which has mol been delegated by
the c, Institution, according TO strict and fair IN
lerpre, ton of its language and spirit and tina, II
shall n, seek TO attain inatrscsiy object through
the exel Use of constitutional potcey for the direct
attainme Of which il has no desgatton Of pofcer.
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly grs ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose, except snch az Is clearly IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustanthe settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government viii best
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
bv leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment' of all their domestic eonce,as-while II con-
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion OF the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exiyencies,
and correspond with the expanding intereAs of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with iberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the str9tes
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue
The national policy of the world IN this age IL
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 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our 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 unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted BY remonstrance and, il need be, BY
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defenstue Il must sometimes be
apparently dggreSslue Our administration shouid
be yigilant 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 il. We cannot
avoid il ii we would We have larger interests and
"A
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
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
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 a great extent, un.
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 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 barbarism and superst
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 II 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.
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 win the spoucss nonor
and unimpeachab good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that -
wrong. II must he liberal and magnanlmous 10
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
it, own interests, rights, and honorit cannot then
be false TO those OF other nations
Such then il the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free we shall endeavor
10 be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles 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--the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for ts 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
m AFTER WEARS nv the Auflnr nf . the