Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-11
P ROSP E G 7 u S
"w WASHINGTON SENTINEL

II PROPOSE to publish IN the cily Oh Washhs-
/ ton, in September, political newspaper ul-
der the name Of The WASHINGTON SENT
MEL.
In doing 20, Il is proper | should make known
the principles il viii maintain and the policy Il
will advocate
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prln
ciples of the Democratic party Of he United StataS
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 thai
party may represent its opinions and express ts
views
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itself TO the
people by blind fatery OF their rulers II VIII
seek public : Ipport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union and by the condemna-
ton of all such 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.
The SENTINEL. will maintain, d tundamental
truth OF that great party that the states formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
stitution as compact; by which also, hey created
the Federal Government, dnd Delegated 10 Y,
as their common agent tb. powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation OF III
others to the States, or to their separate govern
ments: The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usnrpaton OF the
reserved authority of the States by The agent u
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend 'ne Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States--nnder
the Constituton-and thus by scduiousiy guarding
the latter, il will the rfe"tual'v strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL viii take a
the rinciples of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has rot been delegated by
the G, institution, according TO strict and far ~
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and thai
In n n
the exe se of constitutional po,oer, for the @trect
attainme Of which il has no deLegation T po'cer
In other words all powers exercised must he
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers mus, he
used for ,urpose, except such a. u rr'rlV m
tended by th Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
Governments The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. IL will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
ternal policy that Tins Government VIII best
promote the freedom and prosperity oil 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 coHcsrRS-whlle II 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will sun itself TO the exlgenc1es,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberahty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctesi
principles of Justice The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
The national policy Of the world IN this age y
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some Of the nations Of the Old World,
and the ambitious restessDess oEothers, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
PROMPT us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other
tries unless 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
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 dete1isiUe, IL must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be yigilant waichful, and energetic. The world
Is full Of important movements, commercial and
politisal deeply concerning American trade and
American power. Ii is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have H. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
"a
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of continent with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out anarchical despotsm. We are the
oIny 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 10 civilized life and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ourfacilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
A fn 4at sxtn nuf ia
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
i nj 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 al around
US look 10 us a. 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 barbaTism and supersti.
tion Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which Il is called
mission 40 full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our coniederacy the harbinger Of peace 70
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate boid
and ear,,est toreign policy, such the condition Of
the country demands; but il viii advocate 4 under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else lis foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotleSs honor
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 nsk for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that y
wrong II must be liberal and masnanimous 10
the rights Of others and firm and lmmovesble IN
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true to
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. Its enemies IN the field or IN ambush
shall oppose and on all proper occasions de-
nouncp
To our future brethren OF the press we extend
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel i the
| rival of 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 principles upon which il came into power,
| and in it's honest abors to attain such an end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
r ATER YEARS, py the Author Of :. the
| Il Ola House by the RIVER