Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-20
PROSP &c T u s
WASHINGTON SENTINEL, !,


| r PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
| i ton in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL
In doing so, 1t is proper | should make know
the principles il will maintain, and the policy
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United State
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depar
ment the Government, except in SO far as an II
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of thai
party may represent its opinions and express iis
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself to III.
people by blind aattery of their rulers. Il viii
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna
lion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek e
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stituton compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 u
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States or to their separate govern.
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpation OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the ssr"t ol
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetnate the former
With regard 10 the exercise OF the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall eS-
ercis no power which has not been delegated 10y
the c. Institution, according 10 strict and far IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and thai IL
shall nI seek 10 attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional po1oer for the 1ifecf
attainme of which il has no dssgation Of poscsv.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as 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. 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 TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their donestte coneerns-while 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 IL.
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 firmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
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 restessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, il need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly detensipe II must sometimes be
appareztiy aggressive. 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 American
foreign policy. We must have il. 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 a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica despotism. We are the
ony 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
Ia. =
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, to great extent un-
explored and exhaustless 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 TO 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 des-
tined to triumph over the barbarsm and supersti-
ton of the millions fthe world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
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 as the peaceful arber Of it's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such 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 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. II must be liberal and magnsnimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true TO
its 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 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 success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest abors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.