Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-28
PR ROSP EC1T U S
t#f or THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTI

Il
i MEL.
/ In doing SO, II is proper | should make known
/ The principles IL will maintain, and the policy i
| viii advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes OF the Democratic party Of the Unifed Stale
il does not propose 10 be the organ of any DeparI
i ment OF the Government except in so far as an Ia
/ dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
| party may represent its opinions and express ~
| views.s3i st
/ II will not be ambitious 10 commend itself to The
| people by blind battery Of their rulers. IL will
seek public support by the bold ayowal Of the
sentiments which 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 10
be land will endeavor TO deserve the liile) the
organ of the Democratic party OF The United
| States
The SISTsEL will maintain, fundamental
ruth of that great party, that the States formed the
! Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stnuon as compact; by which. also, they rreuci
/ the Fcderai Government and delegated 10 Z,
AZ their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation ol all
others to the States, 10 their separate govern
4 ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore usurpation of The
reserved authority OF the States by The agent ~
i their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Consttution-and thus by sed edulously guarding
| the latter ii will the more eHeciually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a
The rinciples ofits 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 II
shall seek to attain indirecty object through
the Use of constitutional pofcer, for the trect
atainmc tof which II has no delegation of poacer.
| 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 tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration OF the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. 1t will labor 10
| nculcatc this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| terna policy:--,hat tins Government will besi
| 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 conceras-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 IT.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
| foreign policy will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
/ ,
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 it's guide in the 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 rcstessness of others, a com
| mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self hf
| Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, anless by their foreign or 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 infringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
| dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
| war .tH -t pNl i9.es
| Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dsfc,ss1De il must sometimes be
| apparently az ggresstpe. Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
i 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 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 more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and tc
human progrcss--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity Tor
/ internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, TO a great extent, un-
| explored and cxhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
is at feet. European trade seeks the great East
/ through avenues which 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
4 agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful Influences the bless
| ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
| tined 10 triumph the barbarsm and supersti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
i people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO which 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 10
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
1 The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate a boid
end earnest foregn policy, such the condition
! the country demands; but il will advocate il under
/ the flag ofthe country--nowhcrs clse- Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
| and unmpeachable 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
i wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous &c
| the rights of others, and firm and Immoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true &c
its own interests, rights, and honort cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
| Such, then, 10 the chart by which shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavol
| TO be honest and truthful The true friends o
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 It's own party-tbe persona
/ enemy of none OF the other.
i The present Democratic Administration has oui
best wishes for its success in the establishment
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 coadjutor,
\, r. ATER YEARS, py the Author Of ;. the
IL Old House by the RIVER