Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-02
PROSPE &c T u S
OF THE
>, ~ ASgEIEGTON SENTINEL, >,

der ,he name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
| MEL
In dong So il il proper / should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
Itwili support cordially and earnestly the prin
riaes OF the Democratic payty Of tie URtted Sates
il Woes not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Government, except IN 50 far as an IN
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent lis opinions and express lis
| views.
i Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend itselito the
| people bv a blind datterv of their rulers IL will
seek public !pport by the bold avowal OF the
i sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, end by the condemna-
tion of all snch fnay conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il viii endeayor 10 deserve the tulei the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
| States
| The SENTINEL Will maintain, a. fundamental
truth ofthat great party that the States formed the
| lnou heiween item by the ratification OF the Con
| suuion a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal 'I"vernment, and delegated 10 Z,
| a. their conmou agent the powers expres ~
specified ia II, with explicit reservation OF an
Others 10 the States. 10 their separate govern
| ments The exercise pf any powers beyond these
thus delegated. is therefore, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent ~
! their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| the Consutiol-a and thus by sedulousy guarding
| the latter, il viii the more efectua!ly strengthen
| aud perpetnate the former.
With regard TO the exercise OFT the powers'otthe
j FeL era Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincples OF It's action that Congress shall sS-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated ny
the g, Institution, according 10 strict and ftir n
tcrpre, ton of lis language spirit; and tha, Il
shall 10 seek 10 attain iRdirecty object throGa b
the exei Use Of constitutional p01rer, for the Gt2ect
IL L q. III -
| In other words, a powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted and all granted power must he
used for no Nurpose, except such n Is r'rRrly ~
tended by tn Constitution
In respect 10 the internal administrator # the
Government, the SENTINEL Will sustain the settled
4 policy Of the Democratic party. II Wi! labor 10
| incnlcate this cardinal doctrine Of Democratic in
terna policy:-that tins Government will be~i
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
OF the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
| power, and more anxious to preserve liberty and
/ BY leaving 10 the individual States the manage
nent OF all their do1asstic eonceraS--whiie il con
tents itself with guarding the confederacy 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 i.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
4 country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
principles of Justice The real interests Of the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be lis guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
| pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age Is
essentially aggressive, In the growing sense oi
weakness of some OF the nations Of the Old World,
and the ambitious restrssness Of others, com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
/ self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries ealsSs by their foreign colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security cndan
| gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
| or colonial policy which tniringes upon our rights
| and places in the pathway Of our commerce O
dangerous and unlriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, hy
| war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive,
but 10 be property dtsHSfrt Il must soi ttines BE-
| apparently 0ggreSStre. Our admnstrai oa should
| he vgilant, watchful, and energetic. hc world
is full Of important movements, conn ,ial and
| political, deeply concerning American de and
| American power Ii il time we had au American
| foreign policy We must have il We cannot
avoid il ii we would. We have larger interests, aud
q greater stake in the world and lis destiny, than
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
! OF a continent, with no neghbors but colony and
q worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
| olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
| Tendencies, j. washed by the two great oceans OF
The world. Our agricultural productions more
varied aud more essential TO civilized life, and to
| human progress--ouT mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastoqr facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people living under one
| government. continent, 10 a great extent, uQ-
| explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il at our 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
| a. look 10 Us as the rising power, through the
| agency of whose example, and ever widening and
! extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
inCs cf liberty, CIVILIZATION and religion, are des
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO which i Is called /!
A mission 50 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
| make our confcderacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world well as the peaceful arbiter Of it.
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest j0yegR poitcV such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe counlry-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
| and unmpeachable 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, and submit 10 nothing that y
wrong Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and hrn and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. ID must, in fine, be true 10
it, own interests rights and honor--it cannot then
be false To those 81 other nations.
Snch. then. j. the chart by which we shall be
! guided independent aud free, we shall endeavor
10 be honest and truthful. The trua friends OF
democratic principles 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 i the
rival Of press OF is own party--thc personal
ehemy OF none Of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
est wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.
Old House bv the River"