Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-21
PROSP ECTU s
..wAsuNGToN SENTINEL"

| MEL.
In doing 50, il is proper ! should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
| will advocate.
i Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prln
cpes Of the Democratic party Of tie United States
il does not propose to be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government, except III so far as an in
| dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF that
| party may represent lis opinions and express ITS
| views.
| Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itsellto 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 condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek to
be (and will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
i States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution a compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 20 i,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in IT, with an explicit reservation of all
others 10 the States, or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usurpaton OF the
| reserved authority of the States by he agent ~
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectuay strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
! With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
| Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall
/ ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the c, Institution. according TO strict and fair IN
terpre, ton of It's language and spirit; and that II
shall seek 10 attain lndrectty an object through
the exei Use of constitutional poscer for the direct
attainme I of which it has detsgGts0n Of posceT.
/ In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as Is clearly m
tended by th Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
! Governments the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
/ policy of the Democratic party. 1t viii labor TO
! inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
1 terna policy:-lhat 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 liberty; and
i BY leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-whle II con-
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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 it.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
| foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
| cided; but should temper frmness with hberallty,
and make its highest ends consis ST with the strctest
| 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
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlcssness of others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc 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
/ pered 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 uniriendy rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and II need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be prOpe1iy dejeHSiUe, must sometimes be
! oppayentlg 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 it. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
| of continent with neighbors but a colony, and
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We 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 progTess-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
il AT our 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 to 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, des-
i tined to triumph over the barbarsm and supersti-
| tion Of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 10 which it 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, well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny
/ The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
| the country demands but it will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country To-
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 frm and lmmoveabie IN
| insisting on its own. Ii must in hne be true TO
It's own interests rights, and honor-t 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 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 It's own party-the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end y
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadIutor.
L ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of !" the
la Old House by the RIVER
Mr. Rutherford's Children, second volume
Pebbles from the Lake Shore or Miscellaneous