Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-23
PROSPE G 7 Us
OF THE
WASHINGTON SENTINEL"


/ 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 II VIII MAINTAIN. and the poHcy "
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party of the Unitea 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 TO commend itselfto the
people by blind aatlery of their rulers. IL vii!
seek public support by the bold avowal 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 IL will endeavor TO deserve the nte) 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.
stitution a compact Ivy which also. they created
the Federal Government, aud ielegaird - 4,
az their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, 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, j., therefore an nsurpaton OF the
reserved authority of the States by The ss"n' 81
their own creation.
The SENTINEL. will uphold and defend the i'non
upon the basis of the rights of the Staes-under
the Constituton-and thus by sedulonsly guarding
the latter, it will the more ehrctuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise Of the powers Of the
Geral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action that Congress shall cx-
ercis no power which has not been delegated 10y
the c. ustituton, according TO strict and far m
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that II
hall, 11reef n N rt ~
the exei Use of constitutional potcer, for the direct
attainme of which il has no 4Slsgatt0n of po'cer
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for surpose, except such ~ - clearly m
tended by III 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
inculeate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
ternal policy that this Government viii besi
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 coneerRs-whlle II con-
tents itself with guarding the contederacy 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 a progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with llberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the srlctesi
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
l,k nf nj tharg rntn
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries unless by their foreign 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be- BY
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be property detc1iSUe 4 must sometimes be
dppdreniiy aggTeSSiUs. 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 American
foreign policy. We must have II. 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 no neghbors but a colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica despotism. We 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-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of anyDther people living under one
government A continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhausDess IN its yet hidden wealth
is al feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at 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
ings Of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions the world. And shall such
n people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which Il IS called!
mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which IL properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, well the peaceful arblter ol ITS
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foretgn policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but 1t will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else us iorelgn
pOllCy must De COnSlsttHl Win NPotCSH hohoi
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 nething
but what is right and submit 10 nothing that Is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable IN
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 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 It's 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 princpesupon which II came into power;
and in its honest abors 10 attain such an end II
will fnd the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
I ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of " the