Washington sentinel., 1855-02-09
PROSPE ECTU US
.w wAsHIN6:3nN SENTINEL y

1 ssW SENEIN ELL
r PROPOSE to publish in the city Of Washing
| III ton, in September, political newspaper, un
| der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl
| MEL
| In doing So il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy Il
| will advocate.
| II win support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of tho Unfed States
it 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
views.
Il will.not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers II will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
be (and it will endeavor deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a Fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con.
sttution as compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
0thers to the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation of the
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Constitutid dh-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it Will the more ehectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to a strict and fair In
depreciation of its language and spirit and that II
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise Of constitutional poacsr for the direct
attainment of which it has no delcgation Of poscer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly I'M
tended by the Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, the SHNTINKL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II will labor to
inculcate 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 TO exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
nent of all their doDaestic eoneerns-while it 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy as 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 liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strotesi
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
alrrc sofs ooft N pofio Of
and the ambitious restlrssness Of others, a 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 umless 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, sucha policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, W
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be properly defensice, 1t must sometimes be
upparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic Inc world
is full of important movements, coumerclal and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. We cannot
avoid il il 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
: worn-out, anarchcal 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 lie, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacify Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent, un
explored and exhaustless IN it's yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia
Africa and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look 10 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 supersf-
tioH of ths 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 TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL, will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest oreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith OF the country. 10
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes of the world, II 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 honorit 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 dei
nounce.
| To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel .ne
rival Of no press OF its 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 i came into power
/ ana In ia honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.