Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-01
PR ROSP EC T u s
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL .

| MEL.
In doing so, II is proper | should make known
| tho principles II VIII maintain, and The policy u
| will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes of the Democratic party of the United 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 liz opinions and express lis
| views.
| II will not be ambitious TO commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the coDdemna-
ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will eadeavor to deserve the utle) tae
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
| 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
stituton compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO- q,
| as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in IT, with an explicit reservation of all
| Others 10 the States their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usurpaon Of the
| reserved authority Of the States bv the ageD OF
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Consti,ution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectpaly strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a.
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according to strict and fair IN
terpre ton of its language and spirit and that II
shall nI seek to attain indirectly an obIectt through
the Use of constitutional po1cer Tor the direct
attainme of which il has no dstegatton Of potcer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as ~ clearly m
tended by III Constitution.
In respect TO the internal administration OF the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party IL will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy this Government will bes,
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic ooncerns-while II con-
tents itself with guarding the conlederacy 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 exgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with liberality,
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occas sion 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 restessness OF others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| 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
| 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensive II must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiant, watchful, and energetic The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
| political, deeply concerning American trade and
| American power. IL is time we had an American
| foreign policy. We must have II. We cannot
avoid il If 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 neghbors but colony, and
. worn-out, anarchica 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 Ia
| 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 exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s al our feet European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are al our doors, or must
| be made through our own limits. Europe, ASIA,
| Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
4 US, look 10 the rising power, through the
| agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs OF liberty civilization, and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and superstl.
| tion Of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II IS called? !?
| A mission so full of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful srbiter of its
destiny
| The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foretgn policy such the condition of
the country demands; but will advocate II under
1 the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
i and unimpeachable good faith OF the country To
be respectable st home and abroad and 10 be great
4 in the eyes of the world il must ask for nothing
but what is right and submit TO nothing that is
| wrong IL must he liberal and magnanlmous 10
| the rights of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true 10
lis 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
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 lis own party-the personal
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor
r ATER YEARS, oy the Author Of :. the
Ii Old House by the RIVER"
Mr. Rutherfords Oh ldren, second volume.