Washington sentinel., 1855-07-21
PROSP &c I u s
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL. -

4
MEL
| In doing so, il is proper | should make known
i the principles it will maintain, and the policy Il
| will advocate.
i II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes 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 its opinions and express IFS
| views.
II will not be ambitious commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il will
/ seek public sIpport by the bold avowal OF the
| sentiments which common 10 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 te) the
| organ of the Democratic party OF the United
| States t~
| The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them hy the ratification OF the Con
sttution rs compact; by which, also they crented
/ the Federal Government and delegated 10 IL,
AZ their common agent, the powers expressly
i specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States, or 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
| thus delegated, is, therefore, an usurpation Of the
| reserved authority Of the States by the agent 81
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers ofthe
| Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take a.
/ the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the C, institution, according to strict and fair in
terpret tion of its language and spirit; and that II
shall n, seek 10 attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional potcer, for the direct
| atiainme of which il has no dsegataon of potcer
1 j.. t1..I ha
clearly gra ted and all granted powers musibe
used for no ,nrpose, except such as - clearly in
| tended by tn 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
/ nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna 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 anxious to preserve llbertyJ and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic conocTnS-while 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 IL
The SENTINEL will advocate such 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 It's highest ends consist with the strlotest
| principles of Justice The real interests of the
4 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, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
! self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
/ from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries uniess by their foreign colonial policy our
1 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 infrnges upon our rights,
l and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfricndy 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, IL must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant 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 III 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
o worn-out, anarcbical 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 10 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, 10 great extent, un.
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is al 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 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
ngs OF liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
| tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersil-
| tion of the millions ef the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II is calledf
| A mission so 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 the peaceful arbiter Of its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
\ the country demands but IL will advocate II under
/ the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
1 policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
| and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. 10
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 magnanmous 10
| the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
i insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor-t 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 its own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end u
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
ATER YEARS, py the Author Of . the
i IL Old House by the RIVER"