Washington sentinel., 1856-04-10
P ROSP L G T II S
Nv WAsHINGTON SENTINEL. -

4
/ I 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, il is proper | should make know
| the principles IL will maintain, and the policy
| will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of the United State
| II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depar
ment OF the Government except in so far as an il
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of tha
| party may represent ts opinions aud express il,
views
II will not be ambitious to commend itsefto tn,
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II viii
| seek public sipport by the bold avowal of the
| sentiments which are common to the genuine
| democracy of the Union, and by the condeInna
| ton OF all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come Ii will seek tc
be (and il will endeavor 90 deserve the tite) tht
organ of the hemocrafic party Of the United
States.
The SEnrINEL will maintain, as tundamenta
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
umon between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution compact; BY which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IL
as their common agent, the powers eXpressl,
specified in II. with -xpici reservation of MI
Others To the States or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation of the
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon rhc basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constitutiou--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the efectualiv strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs power which has not been delegated by
the G. Institution, according to strict and fair in
terpret tion of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek attain andtrecfiy object through
the Use of constitutional poroer, for the direct
attanine of which il has no Delegation Of porcer
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 III Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the seiled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will bes,
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eoncerns-while it 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 il.
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 frmness with hberality,
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 is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
-. .r.L.-
and the ambitious restrssness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign 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
or colonial policy which nfringes 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, "
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dsys,iSipe 4 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. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have IT, 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 a continent with no neghbors but a colony, and
q worn-out, anarchica 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 essential TO civilized life and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources 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 exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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 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
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called7
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, ss well as the peaceful srbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and Earnest Joretgn policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but II will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess 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, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights Of others, and firm aud Immoveabe in
insisting its own. Il must, in fine, lie true 10
its interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which We shah be
guided Independent and free, we 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 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
lest wishes for its success in the establishment oi
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.