Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-27
P ROSP ECTU s
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL.

4
/ .sWAsHINGTON SENTINEL
II PROPOSE to publish in the city Of Washing
| il ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
| the principles il will maintain. and the policy il
will advocate.
| Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples ofthe Democratic party Of tho United States
il 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 its opinions and express its
views.
/ II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rolers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
/ whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be land il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
/ organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
| States. aa
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con
stituton as compact; by which, alse, 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 10 the States TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, usurpatiou Of the
| reserved authority Of the States by the sgent Of
i their own creation. az
/ 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 II will the more efectuaIy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall
| ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G. institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek TO attain mdiyectly objectth through
the Use Of constitutional poscer for the direct
attainme of which it has no dssgGtio'. of poiccr.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
| used for no 'urpose except such az is clearly in
| 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 TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine Of Democratic in
| ternal policy:--,hat 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 to preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concsrns--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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with lberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the stricest
| principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
| will be it's guide in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue.
| The national policy of the world in this age ia
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 TO colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security cndan
| gered, 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrancc, and, II need be, by
| war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensioe, il must sometimes be
| apparsnfiy aggressips Our administration should
| be vigilant, 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
kforeign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and it's destiny, than
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
of contine mt, with ncighbors but colony, and
| . worn out, anarchical dcspotism. 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 iife and te
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our 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, un-
| explored and cxhaustess 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 own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
| us, look TO 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 barbarsm and supersti-
| ton OF the millions ef the world. And shall such
4 a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission to which IL is calledf
| A mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbingcr OF peace 10
| the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest 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 spotcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
| but what il right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanmous TO
/ the rights Of Others and firm and immovesble in
insisting its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its 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 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--the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power.
| and in it's honest lsbors to attain such end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.