Washington sentinel., 1856-04-05
P R OSP Z G T y y
OF THE
Nv ASHINGTON SENTINEL. ),

der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL.
/ In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cipes of The Democratic party of the United Starr
it does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
| ment OF the Government except in so far az an IN
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
| views.
/ II will not be ambitious to commend itself TO the
people by a blind aattery Of their rulers. Ii will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
| sentiments which common TO the genuine
! Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
| tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the title) 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 as compact; by which, also, they created
1 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, 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 OF
| their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
the Constituton-and thus by sedulousy guarding
| the latter it will the more effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples Of its action, that Congress shall ex
| ercis power which has not been delegated by
the O. Institution, according to strict and fair in
terpret ton of its language and spirit; and that il
shall nl seek TO attain indirectly an obectthrough
the exei Use Of constitutional po,0er, for the direct
attainme of which il has no delegation Of po,oer.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose, except such is clearly in
| tended by til Constitution
| 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:-ihat 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 eonceyns-while il
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 a 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 frmness with liberaty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctest
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 tho growing sense OF
weakness of some OF the nations of the Old World,
| and the ambitious restlessness of others, com
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt 10 avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries, a,iLess by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights
| and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfrendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrane-, and, if need be- by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but be properly d,fenSiue, Il must sometimes be
apparetrtiy aggressipe. Our administration should
be vgilant, watchfu 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 it 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 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 life, and Ia
human progrcss-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 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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 10 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
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II is called?
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confedcracy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter OF Its
| destiny.
| The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest forergn policy, such the condition
the country demands but IL will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at 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 10
the rights Of others, and firm and Immoveabe in
| insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honorit 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. It's 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 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 abors to attain such an end Il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadutor.
T ATER YEARS, py the Author Of . the
| II IN Old House by the RIVER