Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-06
P ROSP e G TUS
.wAsHrNcToN To W sEN,rrNar J.

sWAsHINGTON SENTINEL"
4 PROPOSE 10 publish in the city Of Washing
| Il ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI.
MEL A
| In doing SO, II Is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain. and the policy il
| will advocate
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples OF the Democratic party Of the Uaited States
II does not propose 10 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 its
views. J .G
| II will not be ambitious to commend tselfto 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-
tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek 10
le (and ii will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States. 41
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
sttution as a compact; by which, aso, they created
the Federai Government and delegated To II,
a. their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation OF all
others the States, or to 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 oi
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the Statcs--under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it win the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples ofits action, that Congress shall
ercs power which has not been delegated by
the q, institution, according to strict and fair in
terpret ton of its language and spirit; and that IL
shall ne seek to attain indirectly an obectthrough
the Use of constitutional p0aUer, for the Gi1ecf
auainme of which it has no desgatfon Of potcer.
In othor 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. 1t will labor TO
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna policy 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 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic ooneerns-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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with iberality,
and make its highest ends consist 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 s
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
| n ..Tt of fhpC
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt 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
gered, interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which nfringes 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, Iy
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defensipe, Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be yigilant, 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 II. We cannot
avoid II 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 contine MT, with neighbors but a colony, aud
a 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 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
| r. Il I....
government. A contioent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhausuess IN its yet hidden wealth
lie 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 TO 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
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is calleda
| A missio so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger of peace to
the world, es well as the peaceful arbiier of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foretgn policy such the condition Of
the country demands; but IL will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good fnth Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be great
| in the eyes of the world, IL must ask for nothing
4 but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that IL
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
| the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights and honorit 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 Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce. .E
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 labors TO attain such an end u
viii find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.