Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-29
P R ROSPE g I u s
UF THE
..yY YAsHiNGTON SENTINEL, p

the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
/ IL will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party Of the URtted 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 us
| views.
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itsefto The
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public sipport by the bold ayowa Of the
| sentiments which common 10 the genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and by thGcondemna-
| ton of all such may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. u VIII scer "
| be (and il will endeayor 10 deserve the utle) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
| States.
/ The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
stilution as compact; by which, also they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 20 u,
| AZ their common agent, the power expressly
specified in il, with exphcli reservation OF all
others to the States to their separate govern
| ments The exercise of any powers heyond these
| thus delegated is, therefore, en- ns'rpahon OF the
| reserved authority OF the States ny ihe ag"nl 81
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the 'nion
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter it will the more efrcimaly strengthen
| With regard TO the exercise OF the powers oftae
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution according TO strict and fair ln-
terprel ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall Mt seek attain tndyeciy an object through
the exel Use Of constitutional porcey for the irse
attanme of which it has 6eLe g0tt0n ~ 1,onoer
In other words, all powers exercised mnst be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for no purpose, eKcept snch - y "itarF ~
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration II the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party Il will labor 10
lncucate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
ternal policy that this Government will besi
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
of the States by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic coRcer,,S--whle u con-
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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 i.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exlgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmress with lberality,
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
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 abrbad with our domestic concerns, vii
| II in he afl n
tries anLeSS 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 infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted 10y remonstrance, and, Il need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
hut to be properly deteRsiDe, i must sometimes be
apparently aggreSsIre Our administration should
be vigant, watchful and energetic. The world
il 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 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
. worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies,
the world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and 10
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-otr facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those or any other people living under one
government continent, to a great extent I'M
| explored and exhaustess IN IFS yet hidden wealth
is al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
| be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
4 a. ~. III "a
| US, look TO us 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 TO triumph over the barbarism and snpcrstI.
\ ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
4 act upon the high mission 10 which il i called
/ A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 70
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiier Of H.
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate hold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il viii advocate IL under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
/ policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
i and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad and 10 be great
| in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
/ but what Is right, aud submit TO nothing that j.
| wrong Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
| the rights of others, and hrm aud lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights. and honorii cannot then
he false to those of other nations.
Such, then, is 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 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 is own party--the personal
enemy of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in It's honest labors 10 attain such an end i
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadIutof.
II ATER YEARS, py the Author Of " the
Ia Old House by the RIVER
Mr.. Ruthcrford's Oh ldren, second volume
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous
Poems, by Charles Leland Potter, A. vi.
4 Nj. - L