Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-28
PR ROSPEC CTU s
.wAsHINGToN s"s SENTINEL.

ssWASHINGTON SENTINEL"
4 PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
u ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy il
i will advocate. 6t0s sfE
! Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes OF the Democratic party of the United States
il 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. 8tEm
| 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 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
9Gn e Al saas hS may SpSs
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as Fundamental
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 it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States or TO their separate govern
ments 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-undcr
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former. .F
With regard TO the exercise of the powers ofthe
| 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
terpreaton of its language and spirit and that II
shall not seek TO attain indirectly objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional pofoer for the dire
attainment Of which il has no delegation Of power
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly In
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 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 10 preserve liberty; and
| by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
| ment of all their domestic concerns-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 exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
| country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmness with liberality
| and make its highest ends consist with the stretest
| principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
4 will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
| 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,
4 1,l. nf nfb her r0p
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
4 self
| Our settled determination TO repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid it in the affairs OF other coun
tries aless 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrancc, and, II need be, by
| war.
] Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive (;
but 10 be properly dsfensfpe, il must sometimes be
| apporently aggressips. Our administration should
| be vigilant, watchful and energetic. The world
4 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
/ n
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
| of a continent, with neighbors but colony and
| a worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
| olnv 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 t.
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
j than those of any other people living under one
awfa nj IIn
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeksthe great East
| through avenues which are nj our doors, or must
| be made through our own limits Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
| us. look 10 us as the rising power, through the
| agency of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending though peaceful influences, the bless
ines of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarsm and supers'i-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 20 which u ~ called
| A mission 80 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
i make otr confcderacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
| destiny.
The srrr1SFr. will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate u under
| the flag OF the country-nowbere else. lis foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unImpeachable good iaith oi tue couHuy ~
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 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-t cannot then
4 be false TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which We shall be
4 o,,ided 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 oes
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
tho hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival Of no press OF its own pariy-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
ts, visbes for i,s success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an END u
will find the SENTINEL its friend ana coaolutor.
/ T.,,.e. Eor tho Daily naper. $40 wear, IN ad-