Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-31
PROSP &c TUS
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL ,

! der the name oi the WAoTlNpIoN w soEN L
MEL.
Tn doing SO, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy i
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cples of the Democratic party of the United State,
! il does not propose 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
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind aattery Of their rulers Il will
seek public ipport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common to the genuine
| 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 (and il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
! States. t4
! 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 compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government and delegated TO Il,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, witN an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, to their separate govern
| nients. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usnrpation OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
/ their own creation.
| 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, il will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
| With regard to the exercise Of the powers of the
Feceral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no 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 il
shall seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the exe se of constitutional p0foer for the reei
of w IN q Of
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
| used for no ,urpose except such as is clearly in
tended by tn 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
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic In
ternal policy that 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 concerns-while 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 suit itself TO the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberaity
and make Its highest ends consist with the strietes
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. i. he growing sense OF
weakness of some of the ons of the Old World,
and the ambitious restl, ,iess 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 us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
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 remonstranee, and, if need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly dsfeas,ue, IL must sometimes be
apparently aggressipe Our administration should
be vglant, 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 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
q worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
fenden ncies is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and tc
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, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
= e. a1aS aEefh fhou NJ En-
through avenues which are at doors or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look 70 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 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 Il is called 7
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 arbter of its
destiny.
| The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate u under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad and TO 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 immoveable 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,
i Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
| guided independent and free, we skall 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.
i To our future brethren of the press we extend
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival of no press OF it's own party-tbe 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 itcame into power
| and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author of g the
Ia Old House by the RIVER
Mr. Rutherfords Children, second volume.
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous