Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-22
PROSP E G T u s
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

| l ton, in September, a political newspaper, un-
| der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
| MEL isf
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
| tho principles il viii maintain, and the policy il
/ will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not proppse to be the organ of any Depart
| ment ofthe Governmen except in so far 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 ilselfto the
| people by blind iattery of their rulers. Il 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
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. u will seek TO
! be (and il wiz endeavor to deserve the title) the
| organ Of the Democratic party of the United
| States. -
| The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed TIE
Union between them by the ratification Of tbr cou
stitution compact; by which also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 4,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation q. aii
others 10 the States, or their separate govern
fments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated s, therefore, an usnrpntien OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the tgfni -
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend th, unlon
upon the basis Of the rights Of the States--under
| the Constitntion-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more eGectuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. nstiultion according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exe Use of constitutional poscer, for the direct
attainme of which il has no delegation Of poacey.
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 th 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 best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 70 exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
| by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their donestic eoncerns-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 il.
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 liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the sriotest
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 10 colonial extension has developed
self
| Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, wa
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries ness by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, security endan
gered or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy 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, II must sometimes be
| apparently aggressipe 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 it.. We cannot
avoid il II 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 contine MT, with 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
varied and more essential to civilized life, and ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-otir facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless its yet hidden wealth
is our feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are al 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 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 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst
4 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 IT 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, well as the peaceful arbter 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 ofthc country--nowhere else. Its foreign
/ policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith ofthe 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 right, ana suDmlt 10 nOtniHR tuht -
! 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
it's own interests, rights, and honorit 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--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 came into power;
| and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end "
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
r ATER YEARS, Dy the Author OF : the
IL Old House by the River
| Mr. Rutherfords Children, second volume.
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous