Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-08
PROSPE E G I u S
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL. !,

/ NV ASHiNGION SENIiN EL.p ""
| TT PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
| IL ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
| MEL
] In doing so, ii is proper ! should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
! II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples 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 its
| views
| 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 condenna-
| tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t will seek to
be (and will endeavor to deserve the title) the
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
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-
stitution as compact; by which, alse they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States or 10 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 agent OF
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 sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rincpes otts action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution according to strict and fair in
terprei tion of its language and spirit and that it
shall seek TO attain indirectly object through
the Use of constitutional po1oer for the direct
atainme of which il has no delegatson Of po,cer.
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 10 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 concsrnS-while II 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
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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 restlessness OF others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns will
prompt us TO avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries u,,lesS 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 a
dangerous and uniriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensipe, il must sometimes be
apparently 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 II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid il 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 continent, with no neighbors but a colony, and
a 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 10 civilized life, and To
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, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through 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, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II N called
| A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition o
the country demands but il viii advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 70 be great
| in the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
i but what is right and submit TO nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous &c
the rights of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true &c
its own interests, rights, and honor-t cannot then
| be false 10 those Of other nations.
| Such, then, is the chart by which shall be
| guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavoi
i to be honest and truthful. The true friends o
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 persona
| enemy OF none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has oul
hest wishes for its success in the establishment o
the great principles upon which II came into power
| and In its hnnesf lahnrs 10 nfiain smch end h