Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-10
PROSP CTU S
OF THE s.
w AsHINGTON SENTINEL


In doing so, il Is proper | should make known
| the principles il will maintain, and the policy Il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
tcipes of the Democratic party Of Tie United Stfe
il does not propose be the organ of any Depari
ment of the Cove rnmeni, except in so far an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express iis
views.
Ii will not be ambitious 10 commend nselfto The
people by blind hattery Of their rulers IL will
seek public sappor 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 may conflict with them, from
whateye quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the utle) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SRNrIKEI will maintain, fundamental
truth of that great party, that the States formed the
L pnion between them y the ratification OF the Con.
stution a compact; hy which al-o, they cr.'a-d
the Federal Government, aud delegated 20 Il,
as their common ageat, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States or 10 their separate govern.
mens. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated Is, therefore, an usurpation o the
reserved authority of he States by The agent ~
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution--and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter it will the efectually sirrngt hen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the power ftbe
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
The rincpes Of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit and that II
shall nc seek to attain indirectly object throug h
the Use of constitutional poacer, for the nsrcct
attanme of which il has no delegation Of poaoer.
sad he
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose except such as Is clearly m
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect TO 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 that tins Government will bes
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eoncernS-while>it 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 H.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policyas will suit itself 10 the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberailty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strotest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country upon each occasion demanding attention
will be lis 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 TO colonial extension has developed
self
intar
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries HJieSs 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, Ly
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be property defenSiUe, Il must sometimes be
app0renfiv aggrssstpe. 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. IL is time we had an American
foreign policy, We must have IT. We cannot
avoid il II we would We have larger interests and
a greater stake in the world and its 6estny, than
every other people We occupy the best portion
Of continent, with neighbors but a colony, and
n 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 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. continent, to great extent un.
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is 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 TO 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 to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
lion Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II is calledl
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 feTstgn policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
IN the eyes Oh lne WOrlus u must dSh ioi hotihbk
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights OF others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, IN fine, be true TO
il own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
he 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 il came into power;
and in its honest abors 10 attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
Il ArER YEARS, Dy the Author OF " the