Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-16
PROSP EC 7 u s
-wAsHINtsToN SENTINEL

/ tf Nv SHIN(SION SENTlNEL.'
i III PROPOSE to publish in the city Of Washing
i III ton, in September q political newspaper, un-
der the oame Of the WASHINGTON SENT.
MEL ..f.oii .sss 53. yy9. (
In doing so, IL is proper | should make known
| the principles i will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate,
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment Of the Government, except in so far as an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
| party may represent its opinions and express lis
i views.
| 4 II will NOT be ambitious TO cowmend i,selfio the
| people by blind fattery Of their rulers. Ii will
seek public tipport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are 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 to
| be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ Of the, Democratic party Of The United
1 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
stitution compact; by which, alss, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
| 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, usurpation Of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
! their own creation. sa aH4 ,8aaa. 4,3t..
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States--under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise OF the powers Of the
| Fet sral Government, the SENTINxL will take as
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G. institution, according to strict and fair in
terprc ton of its language and spirit; and that ii
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exer Use of constitutional pcsrcr for the direct
attRinme of which it has no dele CATION Of poscey
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted power. must be
used for no 'urpose, except such as is clearly in
| tended by tn Constitution. s3t343t :a5f
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:5lhat 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 domsstie eoncsrns-whiie 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 will suit itself the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; bui should temper frmness with lberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictesl
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
weakness OF some OF the nations of the Old World,
nd he m sfle Of a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self. tEi
Our settled determination repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid if in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt q foreign
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 remembrance, and, If need be, BY
.tn4HG gu un+tszt
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensfve, Il must somctimes be
apparently ag ggressipe Our administration should
| be siglani, 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 IL. We cannot
avoid IL III 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 contne nj, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, il washed by the two great oceans OF
| the world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential to civilized life, and
| human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
/ government. A continent, TO q great extent, un-
\ explored and exhansuess In its yet hidden wealth
!, at 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 ali around
| US, look 10 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 de stiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO 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, well as the peaceful srbter Of its
| destiny
| The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but IL will advocate II under
| the flag ofthc country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless 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 IL
wrong. IL must be liberal and magnanimous to
| the rights of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting its own. II must, in fine, be rue to
its own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations ..t e.
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 shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de,
| nounce. sea-
1 To our future b-cthren of the press we extend
| the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
! rival of no press of its own pary--the personal
| enemy Of nome Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for it's in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcsme into power;
i and in lis honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjntor.
ATER YEARS. the Author n TN q