Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-05
PROSP EC TU s
y "wAsHINGTON SENTINEL p

\ IhOIOoE 10 publish III the CITY Oh WdSnlnx-
u ton, in September, political newspaper un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL. -i
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate. s.E#
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples ofthe Democratic party Of the United State,
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depar,
ment OF the Cove rnment, except in SO far an In
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views. E .fss
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by a blind hattery 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 condemns
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (andit will cndeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
ruth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others to the States, 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 OF
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, it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take az
the rincples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, nsttution according to strict and fair in
erpre, tion Of its language and spirit; and that il
shall seek to attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional posoer, for the srscf
attainme of which it has no delegation Of poi0ey.
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 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
nculcate 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 domestic eomcerns-while 1t con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion of the common
Interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing it,
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 6rmness with liberality,
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 it
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OI
weakness of some of the nations Of the Old World
and the ambitious restlessness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, vii
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, security endan
gered, our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges 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, by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defenstps it must sometimes be
apparently aggresstvs. Our administration should
be vigilant, wstchful 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 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 colony, and
q 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 are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life and IL
human progrcss-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 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
s al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which 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 10 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, are des.
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti
tion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which il is called
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace &c
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter of it,
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bol1
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition o
the country demands; but it will advocate il unde
THE nag oil the country--noWhers else. lts IOrelgf
policy must be consistent with the spotless honoI
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. Tc
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be grea
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that II
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous tc
the rights OF others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fne be true tc
its own interests, rights and honorit cannot ther
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such then, is the chart by which shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavol
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
democratic principles we shall cordially suppor
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 extent
the hand OF friendly greeting The Sentinel is the
rival of no press OF its own party--the persona
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has ouI
hest wishes for its success in the establishment
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such end il
Twill find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
n ATER YEARS, py the Author of 50 the
II Old House by the RIVER