Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-28
PROSP E G TU s
.wAsHINGas,N SENTINEL. !,

IL
der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENTI.
MEL.
In doing so, / i proper | should make knows
tho principles it viii maintain. and the policy y
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes of the Democratic party Of the United Stos,
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
'ment of the Cove rnmeni, except IN so far as an a
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines al that
party may represent its opinions and express ~
views.
II will nor be ambitious 10 commend itseIfio the
people by blind hattery of their rulers >, wiii
| seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which common 10 the genuine
Democracy OF the Union and by the condenna-
tion of all such as nay conflict with them. isGr'
whatever quarter they may come, lrHssH seek 70
be land il viii endea vor.to deserve the
crgan Of the Democratic party nf l. li'-'sssi
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, tuDdgnnsnt'
ruth thai great party that the Strtes ormed The
Union betweea tbe,u by the ratification q the loif
sttution as compact; by which al~e ih-y crentr
the Federal Government. and delegated ~ Y,
as their common agent. the powers express Y
specified in il, with explicit observation 81 ~
others to the States to their separate govern
n,ents. The exercise Of any covers beyond THESE
thus delegated is, therefore, an nsnrpahon - the
reserved authority OF the States ny the agar Z
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the S,ates'ind''r
the ConstitutioD--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more etectnaly strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers oi the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G. institution, according TO strict and fair ~
terprei tion of its language and spirit; and that
shall nc seek to attain t2latrecily through
# fDrt he m
attainme of which it has no delegation Of Pc1os7
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must "
used for no ,urpose, except such a. il "eariy m
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration oi the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor 10
incucate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic ~
tcrnal policy:-ihat this Government will besf
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
ment of all their domestic concerns--whe 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 II.
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-
cded but should temper frmness with iberahty,
and make its highest ends consist whthe strlotesi
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 4
essentially aggressive In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness OF others, com
II hnS Anr "a a.aft
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
aered or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt ioreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, u need be, BY
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive,
but to be properly defensive, il must sometimes be
appaTeuflv aggressire. Our administration should
be viglant, 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
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
a worn-o 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 Ia
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, TO a 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 inddences, the bless
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, are dcs-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
tion of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
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, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest fore1g,, policy such the condition OF
the country demands but il viii advocate II under
the flag oftbe country--nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
ana unlmpeacnADe pOOu VI iht IOuhby. -
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 magnanimous 10
| the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable IN
insisting its own. II must, In fine, bo true 10
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 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 its own party-tho personal
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment Of
the great principles upon which itcame into power
| and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
| --------