Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-06
P R OSP E G 7 u s
Of THE
w AsHINGTON SENTINEL"

| / ton in September, political newspaper nn-
| der the name of the WASHINGTON SENIl-
! MEL.
| In doing 50 II is proper | should make known
! tho principles il viii maintain, and the policy
| will advocate
! Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party of the Uatted 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 It's
4 views.
Il will not be ambitious 10 commend itself TO the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public sipport by the bold avowal OF the
1 sentiments which are common TO The genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such may conflict with them, rom
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
| be land il will endeavor TO deserve the utle) the
| organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
| States.
The SENTINEL. will maintain, IA fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
slitution compact; by which, also they creairo
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 u,
| a. their common agent. the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated s, therefore. an u-nrpaton " The
reserved authority Of the States Nv the ageo, -
| their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold aud defend hr Unson
upon the basis of the rights OF the States-- under
| the Constitution-and thus by sednouslv guarding
the latter, ii will the more eHretna'v strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise of the powers OF the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rncipes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercis no power which has mol been delegated ny
the c. institution, according strict and far IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and thai il
shall nc seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exei Use OF constitutional poacer, for the direct
aitainme of which il has no eiegatio1, Of potosr
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as Is clearly IN
tended by til Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration OF the
Government The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity OF The people
Of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more al.xious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their dOmeSttc c0nesTnS-whie II 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper hrmness with hberallty,
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 &c repel interference
4 from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
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, sy
| war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defenStUe, il must sometimes be
| apparentlv aggresSiUs Our administration should
| be yigilant 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
| foreign policy. We must have IL. We cannot
avoid il ir 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 contine mt with no neighbors but colony, and
| worn-out, anarchical despotism. 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 life, and to
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 A continent, TO a great extent, un.
explored and exhsustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s al 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 the~risng 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 superstl-
| ton OF the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II Is calledf
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foregn yoiicy, such the condition o
| the country demands; butit will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotiess honor
| and nnmpeachable 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 is right, and submit TO nothing that Is
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable IN
| insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor-it 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 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 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 its honest abors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
r ATER YEARS, py the Author Of " the
Ia Old House by the RIVER"
Mr.. Rutherfords Children, second volume;
hal al.