Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-31
PROSP EC 7 US
wv wAsHINGTON SENTINEL. J,

| u
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI.
MEL
In doing So il is proper | should make known
| the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
i Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party Of The United States
II does not propose 10 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 its
1 views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support 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 70 deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
! States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, 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 il, with 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.
| 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 edectuslly strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution, according strict and fair in
terprei ton ofits language and spirit and that II
shall seek to attain indIrociy object through
the Use of constitutional poper, for the direct
attainme of which it 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 is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect TO the internal administration OF the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party II will labor to
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy: y:-tbat 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 TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic c0ncerns-while II 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 il.
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-
cided; but should temper firmness with lberality,
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
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened our security endan
gered, 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
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, Ly
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defensipe Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, 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 il we would We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
q worn-out, anarchcal 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 TO civilized life, and Ia
human progress-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, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
4 L. ~l~msz Lf1sf
| 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 to us the rising power, through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
/ extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs OF liberty civilization, and religion are des-
/ tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst
/ ton OF the millions Of the world And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which u is called !
| A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbnger OF peace 10
| the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
1 The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate IL under
/ the flag ofthe country-nowhere 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 is
wrong Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
/ the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
4 insisting on its own Il must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
/ be false to 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 Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions des
nounce.
To 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
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL it's friend and coadjutor.
Z ATER YEARS, by tho Author of g the
IL Old House by the River