Washington sentinel., 1853-10-13
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
.WAsHINGTON SENTINEL

"W WASHlNSslON SkcN'Il lNlclls"
r PROPOSE to publish in the city Of Washing
der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In Niing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy it
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prn-
cples of the Democratic party of hs Unifed States
IL does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far as in
dependent maintenance OF, the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto 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 condemna-
tion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II 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 fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 1t,
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, usurpaton 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 Stat0s--under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectually strengthen
aud perpetuate the former
With regard 10 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
terpretaon of its language and spirit and that il
-.
the exercise of constitutional poccy for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of porer
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 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
tcrnal 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 conceyns-while il con-
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
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 restlessness of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
itself
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs of other coun-
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, or 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
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be property defensiUc it must sometimes be
apparently az gg,essire. Our administration should
be vgilant, waichful, 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism. We the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied aud essential TO civilized life. and to
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, to great extent, I'M
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 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
inss of liberty, civilization and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and superst-
tion of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 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 harbnger of peace 10
the world as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unmpeachable 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. II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights and honorit 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
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend It's 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 present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment oil
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadIutor.
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