Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-18
PROSP E G 7 u s
OF THE
sW ASHINGTON SENTINEL"

der the name of the WASHINGTON SEMI
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes of the Democratic party Of the Untted States
il does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment Of the Cove rnment except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express lts
views.
II will not be ambitious commend itself 10 the
people by blind iattery of their rulers. II will
seek public sipport by the bold avowa of the
sentiments which common 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek 10
be land il will endeayor to deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party. of the United
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
sttution a compact; by which als". they created
the Federal Government, and drtesatrd % /,
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 usurpaon OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent oi
their own creation
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Uaion
upon the basis of the rights OF the States--under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectualy Strrngihra
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers ui the
Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take a.
the rnciples 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, tion of its language and spirit; and that II
shall n, seek to attain indirectly an oblectthrough
the exeI ise Of constitutional poer, for the direct
attainme I of which il has no dsLsgattoR Of poaoev.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such a. Is clearly IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. IL will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government viii 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
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns--whlle 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 a progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with lberallty,
and make its highest ends consist with the srlctesi
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 restlessness OF others, a com
mon motive to 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
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 remonsirance, and, if need be, "
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be propsyiy defensive, Il must sometimes be
api,ayentlu aggressipe. 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 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 continent, with no neighbors but a colony, and
a worn-out anarchical 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 vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, 10 great extent un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
il 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
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 barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions of the world And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II is caliedf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbHer oil It's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but IL will advocate It under
the flag ofthe country-nowhcre else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotiess honor
and unmpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. 1t must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true TO
lis 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 endeavor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. It's 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
hest wishes for its success in the Establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
r ATER YEARS. py the Author Of " the