Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-03
P R OSP E CT us
..wAsuTNCToN sENrryE, /.

Il ton, in September, political newspaper un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
i MEL.
! In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles twill maintain, and the policy i
I will advocate n
| II will support cordially and earnestly the pm
clples OF the Democratic party Of tile URusa Stais
| II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depar
| ment OF the Government, except in so far II
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF tha
party may represent its opinions and express il.
| views.
IL will not be ambitious 10 commend itself to the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II vii
seek public ipport by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
| democracy of the Union, and by the condemna
ton OF all such may conflict with them from
whatever quarter they may come II will seek tc
be (and II will endeavor 10 deserve the tite) the
organ OF the Democratic party OF the United
States.
! The SRNTINEl. will maintain, Fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification ofthe Con
SutuiIon AZ compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 IT,
as their common. agent, the powers expressly
| specified IN IL, 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, 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 States-under
| the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, II will the more effeciuallv strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers OF the
FcCeral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinclples of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the Y, Institution, according TO strict and fair in
terprei lion of its language and spirit; and that il
shall seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the exe Use of constitutional porcey, for the irecf
attainme of which il has no deLsgation of yoscey.
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
lncucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-ihat this Government will bes
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 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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself the exigencies
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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 restlrssness of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
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, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defe1lStve Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressIUe. 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 IL is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have H. We cannot
avoid il II we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
9 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 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
government. A continent 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhsusuess IN its yet hidden wealth
IL al our 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
ngs Of liberty, civilization, and religion, dcs-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which u is called?
A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, If properly directed, must
make our coniederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and Earnest foreign policy, such az the condition
the country demands; but il will advocate II Under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
anu uNltnpthNnaUtt kOOo VI tue IouhI1s IL
be respectable home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
its own interests rights, and honor--t cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, 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.
To our future brethren Of the press extend
the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival Of press of its own party-thc 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 itcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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