Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-26
PROSP ECT u s
Mt OF THE AtV
Il, Nv ARLINGTON SENTINEL

L
| PROPOSE 10 publish in the city OF Washing
! i ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT
| MEL. fN n
In doing So il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain. and the policy i,
will advocate. pt r.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples OF the Democratic party Of the United State.
u does not propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment OF the Government, except in so far an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express iis
views. VI 2aa t&ri saJ-E se-7r3 a
II will not be ambitious TO commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
tion Of all such ~ may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States. 80 49,
The SENrINxL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to II,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in II, 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, usurpation 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 Statcs--under
the Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, II will the efiectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former. s,5.s s.l sa.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Feeeral Government, the SKNTINKL will take as
the rinciplcs 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
terpre. ton of its language and spirit; and that il
shall seek TO attain fadsrecfly object through
the Use of Constitutional pot1ey for the diyect
attanme of which il has no delegation of poscer.
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 th Constitution.
In respect 10 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 10 exercise
power and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage.
ment of all their donseaie conceyas-whle il con-
tents itself with guarding the confcderacy 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 as 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 6rmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with tho strctest
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
viii 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 sense OF
weakness Of some Of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, q com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gcred or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway OF our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly dfenssps, it must sometimes be
apparently aggressips Our administration should
be vgilant, wstchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
AIne erican power. IL ~ time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have IT, We cannot
avoid IL IL 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 neghbors but colony, and
| . worn-out, ansrchical 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 more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
fuf~ al md mn avf Hal
than those OF any other people living under one
government. A continent, to a great extent, un-
explored and cxhaustlcss its yet hidden wealth
is 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 all around
us, look 10 ths 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 barbsrism and supcrsti-
tion OF the millions ef 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
mission 80 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
make confcdcracy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbitcr Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnea foyetgn yoi,cy such the condition OF
the country demands but IL will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhers else. Its foreign
policy mpst be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachsble good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
| in the eyes Of the world, i must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that Is
| wrong. II must be liberal and msgnanimous "a
the rights OF others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on it's own II must, in fine, be true "a
it's own interests, rights, and honor-t cannot then
be false 10 those OF other nations.
| Such, then, 10 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 in the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
i nounce.
To our future brethren OF the press we extend
the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival OF press OF is own party--the persona
enemy Of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its success in the establishment
the great principles upon which IL came into power
/ and in its honest lsbors TO attain such an end |,
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdjutor.
r ATER YEARS, ny the Author sr the