Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-01
PROSP EC 4 u S
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL. ;,


PROPOSE TO publish in the city Of Washing
/ i ton, in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl.
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper l should make known
the principles il will maintain and the policy it
| will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party Of the United .Stats
II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
| ment of the Cove rnment, except in so far in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of thai
party may represent its opinions and express its
| views.
Ii will not be ambitious TO commend itsefto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public sipport by the bold nvowa OF the
| sentiments which common 10 the genuine
| democracy Of the Union and by the condemna-
tion of all such may conAici with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
he land it will endeavor 10 deserve the tte 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, alse. they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO u,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with 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, usurpaton 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 Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter, il will the more efectualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take Is
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution, according TO strict and fair IN
erpret tion OF its language and spirit; and thai IL
hall
the Use of constitutional poorer for the oiree,
attainme of which il has no deSgation Of poroer
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
| used for no purpose, except such 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 10 the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic oomoerns-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 as will suit itself TO the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
| cided; but should temper frmness with liberality,
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 will
| pursue.
| The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing OF
weakness Of some OF the nations of the Old World,
| and the ambitious restl@ssness 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 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
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfrendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensive II must sometimes be
apparently ag ggresstpe. Our administration should
be vigant, watchfu 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 II we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
&C..
OF continent with neighbors but a colony, and
| . 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 tc
/ human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacytor
/ internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent, I'M
4 IL hap .tl.ao vat 1Hep al
s at our feet European trade eeks the great East
| through avenues which are 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 us 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, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
/ tion 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 il is called !
/ A mission 80 full of hope, though so laden with
/ responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, well the peaceful arbter OF it,
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foretgn policy, such the condition
the country demands; but il will 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
i
in the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
1 wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Ii must, in fine, be true 10
lis own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 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
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which IL came into power
| and i'm its honest labors TO attain such an end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.