Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-18
P ROSP CT us
OF THE
Nv WASHINGTON SENTINEL

.WAsHINGTON SENTINEL
y PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washns.
il ton, in September, political newspaper un.
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, il Is proper l should make known
the principles ii will maintain, and the policy Il
viii advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose 10 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 liz
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowa 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
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will cndeavor to deserve the tite) the
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-
sttntion a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 1t,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il. with an explicit reservation OF all
Others to the States, or their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus dtlegdleu Is, dH usVrpdtioh VI Inc
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
npon the basis of the rights OF ha States---under
the Constitntion--and thus by seduous'y guarding
the latter, il will the more efFeetvaly strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise ofthe power, of the
FED eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes fits action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution, according TO strict and fair IN
ierprei tion of its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek to attain indirectly an obJectthrough
the exel ise of constitutional posoey, for the direct
attainme of which il has no deiegatsOn Of poicer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose, except such as ls CLEARLY IN
tended by th Constitution. yH
In respect to the internal administration OF the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna policy that this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve hbertyj and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-whiie 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 IT,
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 liberaiity,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctes
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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 to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, viii
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 remonstrancc, and, II need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensive It must sometimes be
apparently aggressiue. 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 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a 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 10
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhausuess in its yet hidden wealth
at 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 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 TO triumph over the barbarsm and superstl-
ton 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, 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 yorugn policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but ii will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable homo 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 TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and Free we shall endcavor
to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies in the 6eld 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 persona
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment o.
the great principles upon which Il came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end i
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
II ATER YEARS. py the Author of . the