Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-22
P ROSP ECT u s
Nv WASHINGTON SENTINEL.

f4 a3 OF THE
Nv ASHINGTON SENTINEL
L II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl.
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
clples 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 an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent us opinions and express ills
views.
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-
ton of all such as may conflict with them from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the hte) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to il,
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 is, therefore, an usurpation Of the
reserved authority Of the States bv 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 Constituton---and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efec,psly strengthen
| and perpetuate the former,
With regard to the exercise Of the powers the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL viii take as
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the c, institution, according to strict and fair in
terprei ton of its language and spirit and that il
shall seek to attain indirectly objectthrough
the Use of constitutional po,cer for the direct
attainme of which il has delegation Of po,osr.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except sncb as is clearly in
| tended by tn Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration OF The
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. 1t will labor TO
incucate 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 domestic concerns-while il 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 II.
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 Eberaty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles Of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns will
prompt TO avoid IL in the affairs OF other coun
tries, ualeys by their foreign colonial policy
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, sucha policy must
be resisted by remonstranc-, and, If need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defensivs, Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressipe Our administration should
be viglant, 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 ii IL we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of continent, with neighbors but a colony, and
9 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 to
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
ia and ffyf
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 exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
through avenues which at our doors, 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, des
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which IL is called? !?
mission so full of hope, though 50 laden with
responsibility, which, IL 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 a bold
and foreign policy, such as the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhers else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, IL must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
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-tbe personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
/ The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest lsbors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL it's friend and coadjutor.