Washington sentinel., 1856-03-29
PROSPE TU s
wAsHINGToN SENTINEL. J,


I PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
j ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of ibe WASHINGTON SENT
MEL
the principles II will maintain, and the policy i,
will advocate, HI
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes of the Democratic party Of The United States
IT does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of thai
party may represent its opinions and express its
views. 53t83 st- aa 35inf A.ta Ne
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by q 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 condemna-
ton OF all such as May conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and IT will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. aa 9i AsisaR Rl Fl G .s4f#ta
The SENTINEL. will maintain, as fundamental
ruth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Goa
stituton as compact; by which, also they create,
the Federal Government, and delegated TO Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or to%ther 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. 5s ra9a .Ii ..4r .4g
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis OF the rights of the States-under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulously gu ardine
the latter il will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former. - tts
With regard 10 the exercise Of the powers of the
FeLeral Government the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the 9, Institution, according strict and fair in
nf ito Ian md nrrff md hat
shall nc seek to attain indirectly object through
the Use of Constitutional 7otoer for the 9ireci
attainme of which il has delegation of p0aosr.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such as is clearly in.
tended by tn Constitution. ae4s
In respect TO the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy OF the Democratic party. II will labor 10
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 donsssic ceoncevns-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 il. 1.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberalty,
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 the SENTINEL will
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
we eal lnes af nna Of fha pft q he nl WorId
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
SELF
Our settled determination 10 repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns will
prompt 10 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, our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which nfringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendl 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 vgilant, 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 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 a continent, with neighbors but a 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 10 civilized ife, and Ia
human progrcss-our mineral and man ufacturing
resources vast-ourfacilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which al 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, des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst.
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 to which il is 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, well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition
the country demands; but il will advocate IL under
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable al 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 magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on lis own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honort 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 endcavor
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
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.