Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-17
PROSP EGTU S
.wAsHINCTON SENTINEL .


.sWASHINGTON SENTINEL"
PROPOSE 10 publish in the city Of Washing
Il ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL. 4.t 4d. 4talr
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy ii
will advocate.
II will support cordially aud earnestly the prn
cipes of the Democratic party Of tho Uaitsd States
II does not propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Cove crnment except in 80 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 10 commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public AIpport by the bold nvowal Of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek to
be (and II will ondeavor to deserve the tite) 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 ratification Of the Con-
sttution a compact; by which, alse, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation Of all
others TO the States to their separate goverR-
nents. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton 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 Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
III dins To afr md
ierpre, tion ofits language and spirit and that it
shall nt seek attain indirectly through
the Use of constitutional poOsr for the 1srect
attainme of which it has delegation of poscer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. Il will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will best
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 don,estie eoncsrns-while 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 hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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
ly N
weakness Of some Of the nations of the Old World,
/ and the ambitious restessness of others, a com
\ mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination to repel interference
| from abroad with our dorhestic concerns, will
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 a foreign
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce n
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dgsnsips II must sometimes be
| apparently aggressivs. Our administration should
| be vigilani 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 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 nt with no neghbors but colony, and
q 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 more
varied and more essential to civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, 70 a great extent, un-
explored and eIhausuess in it's yet hidden wealth
is at feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at 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
| agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the bsrbarism and supersti-
| ton Of the millions ef the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL properly directed must
make our confederscy the hsrbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbitcr Of its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnesf foregn policy, such the condition of
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhcrs else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpcachabc good faith Of the country. To
be respectable st home and abroad and 20 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
| but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that Is
wrong. IL must be liberal and msgnanimous TO
| the rights Of others, and firm and Immoveablc in
| insisting on its own. Itmust, 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 extend
the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival Of 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 it's honest labors TO attain such end II
| will find the SKsrIsxL it's friend and ooadjutor
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author OF " the