Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-19
PROSP-E G TU S
OF THE
.sWASHINGTON SENTINEL

Il
| MEL,
In doing So il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy il
| will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party of the United States
il does not propose to 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 It's
/ views.
| II will NOT be ambitious 10 commend itself 10 the
| people by blind hattery of their rulers. II Will
seek public s.pport by the bold avowa of the
| sentiments which are common to the genuine
4 Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion Of all such may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek to
/ be land il will endeavor To deserve the tte) the
1 organ of the Democratic party of the United
| States
The SENTINEL will maintain, a. a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
| sttuton compact; by'which, also they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 II,
a. their common agent the powers expressly
specified in II. with explicit reservation Of all
| others TO the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority OF the States by the agent Of
| their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis Of the rights Of the States-under
/
| the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers OF the
/ Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a
the rnciples of It's action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. Institution, according 10 strict and fair IN
erpre, ton Of its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek TO attain andirectty an object through
the excl Use of constitutional potcer for the arect
attainme of which it has no delegation Of poaoev
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such as is clearly IN
| tended by th Constitution.
In respect 10 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
| ternal 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 10 preserve liberty; and
| BY leaving TO the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic concerns-while il 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 policy as will suit itself 10 the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the srietesi
| 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.
i The national policy OF the world in this age is
| essentially aggressive In tho growing sense OF
weakness of some OF the nations of the Old World
| and the ambitious restl,.ssness OF others, com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, vii
| prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, neSs 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
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 remonstrance, and, if need be- by
| war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properiv defe1Sire, Il must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive Our administration should
| be vigiant, 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, anarchcal 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 10 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, 10 great extent, un.
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is AT our feet European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which 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 influences, the bless
ngs Of liberty, civilization, apd religion, are des-
| tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
4 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 TO which II is calledf :
/ mission 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 a. the peaceful arbIter OF ITS
/ destiny.
The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign pollen such as the condition of
4 the country demands but il will advocate II under
i the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable home 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. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
| the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
It's own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
| be false TO those OF other nations
i 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 dess
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 came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end u
will find the SENTINEL It's friend and coadutor.
r ATER YEARS, ny the Author OF :. the
Ia Old House by the RIVER"
| Mr. Rutherford's Children, second volume.
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous