Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-06
PROSPECTUS
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL.

II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cples of the Democratic party of the United States
II does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
meut of the Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express IFS
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers II 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 as may conflict with them. from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
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 as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 IT,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, 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, an 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, it will the more efectualy 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
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
terpretaton of its language and spirit and that it
shall not seek to attain indirectly obiectthrough
the exercise Of constitutional pocer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of potcer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. 1t 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 domestic 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 exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
eided; but should temper firmness with liberalty.
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
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,
and the ambitious restessness of others, a COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
itself.
Our settled determination to repel Interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid it in the affairs of other coun-
tries, m,lesS by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which nfringes 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.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be property dsfenstUe, il must sometimes be
appare,uiy 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 it We cannot
avoid it 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out anarchical despotism. We are the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
pendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized lie. and TO
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, to great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless in 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 own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us, look TO us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences. the bless
inpcn nj Hhertu nd RI g
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 destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which IT 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 to
the world as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own II must. in fne, 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 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 its own party-the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The isresent Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
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
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copy of ours. BEVERLEY TUCKER