Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-06
P ROSP EC T u s
"w wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

II
| j. ton, in September, political newspaper, nn
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 j
will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of the United State
II does not propose to be the organ Of any Depar
ment ofthe Government except In 80 far as an IL
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of tha
party may represent It's opinions and express it,
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itseIfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t 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 may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek tc
be (and il will cndeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SKNTmKr. will maintain, as a fundamental
truth that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
sttution compact; by which, alse, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, 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.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it will the more eectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
FEDERAL Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis, no power which has not been delegated by
the @, nsttution according to strict and fair in
erprei tion Of its language and spirit; and that II
oh
the Use of constitutional poroer for the direct
attainme Of which il has delegation Of posoer.
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 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 that 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 donsstic concerns-while 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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy 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 frmness with liberality,
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 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,
Ish~ nf 9th
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gcred, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
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
-
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defensfUe, II must sometimes be
apparently aegyess,us. Our administration should
be vigiant, 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 it. We cannot
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of contine Mt with neighbors but a 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 TO civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources 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 a great extent, un-
explored and cxhausuess 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 to 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
a people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO 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 arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and saraea forss1n policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but IL will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. Its foreign
and unimpeschsble good faith Of the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes Of the world, Il must ask for nothing
but what 10 right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and msgnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immovesble in
insisting on lie own. Il must, In fne, be true 10
ts own Interests, rights. and honor-it cannot then
be false 20 those OF other nations.
such. then, 40 the chart by which we shall be
guided. isSepeadens and free, we shall endcsvor
~ be honest saS truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
s.d s~f~nd Ia enemies IN the held or IN ambush
~s shall oppose. sad ON all proper occasions de.
nouncs.
To eur future brethren of the press we extend
,s~ hard ef frssaay greeting. The Sentinel 10 the
rivsl 81 90 press of ns own parfy-ihe personal
.nesny ef none of the other.
Th~ pr.~~nt Democratic Administration has our
t~-s ~l.hes icr 90 success. in the establishment OF
the great pstn~pl.- upon which itcam@ into power;
snStn 10 honss lsbors 10 attain such end il
~in Ard tho sxsrEsxL ns friend and cosdjutor
r AvGn yEAws. py the Aushsr Of q the
Il !. s.lA Nwa