Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-05
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
wv WASHINGTON SENTINEL"

der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENTI-
NEL
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciplc> Of the Democratic l'asy Of ths Gnitea States.
II does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
meni OF the Government. except IN SO far rs an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind battery 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 condcmna-
non Of all such may conflict with them. from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
he (and willendeavor to deserve the tille) 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 compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation OF all
Others to the States or 10 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 Con>tuon-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuaie the former.
With regard TO the exercise ofth powers of the
Federal Government. the SENTINEL will take as
the prime pies OF its action. that Congress shall cX-
crcise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution. according 10 a strict and fair in
tcrpreation Of its language and spirit; and that
shall not seek to attain inairertiV an object through
the exercise Of constitutional lOcsr for the dirrct
attainment Of which il has no Mkeation of pomrr.
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 iy the Constitution.
In respect To the internal administration Of the
Government. the SENrlNELwl 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 heng less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
lnent of all their domestic coucefNx-whc it con-
tents itself with guarding the conf.dcracy from
external violence. and directing the foreign policy
of tho 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 sui, itself to the exscncics.
and correspond with the expanding interests ofthe
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cidcd; but should temper lirnne~> with lberality.
and make its ghrs, ends consist with the strictrsl
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 oi
weakness of some OF the nations of the Old World.
and the ambitious rcStc>snrss Of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
itself.
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt uS 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other
tries. nnicSS by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should he threatened, our security cndan-
gcrcd, interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests OF other nations prompt a foreign
colonial policy which nringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and untrcndly rival, sucha policy must
he resisted by rcnonstrance and II need be- by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, he defensive:
but to be property Mi;"si,r il must sometimes be
apparently oygyrSsi,r. Our administration should
be vgilan,. wa,chn, and energetic. The world
is full OF important movements. comncrclal and
polite AL deeply concerning American trade and
American power. Ii is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. We canno,
avoid il 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 a continent. with no ncighbor> but colony, and
a worn.on,. anarchiral de>potism. w" are the
only people whose own land without COLONEL Dc.
Tendencies. is washed by the two great oceans ot
varied and essential To civilized life. and to
human prosrcss--o,lr mineral and manufacturing
resources more va>t-our facilities and capacity for
internal and torci ign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. cont lncnt, 10 Il great extent IN
explored and cxlaustleSs in it, yet hidden wealth,
is nj our 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- 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 dcs-
tined to triumph over The harbarism and snpcrsti.
tion Of the millions OFT the world. And shall Snch
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny. and
act upon the high mission to which il is called
mission so full OF hope. though 50 laden with
responsibility. which, il properly directed, must
max, our coni.dcracy the harbn-er Of peace to
tho world. well as the peaceful arbrr OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will. therefore. advocate bo1
ami earnest foreign poiicV such the condition OF
the country demands: but il will advocate il under
the nag ofihc country-nowhere else. It's foreign
policy mus, be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unmpcacllahlc good faith ofihc country. To
be respectable nj homo and abroad and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world il must ask lur nothing
but what is right. and submit TO nothing that is
wrong. II must lie liberal aud ma-nanimons 70
tho rights Of others. and firm and immovcabIr IN
insisting on It's own II must. in fine. lr true 10
its own interests rights and honor 1t cannot then
be false 10 those oi other nations.
Such then is the chart by which shall be
guided. Independent and free. we shall cndcavor
To be honest and truthful. The true friends Of
democratic principles VIC shall cordially support
and defend lis enemies in the field or in ambush
we shall oppose and on al proper occasions de-
nouncc.
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 par'y--ihe personal
enemy Of none oi The other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for i,> in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power
aud in it, honest ahors w attain such an end u
will find the SENliNEI. its friend an, roadlutor.
TERMS For the Daily paper. $40 year. In adj
vance. For the Tr.wrckly s. year TO single
subscribers and to Clubs persons subscribing for
or more copies, nj the rate ot So year. For the
Weekly, 81 year to single subscribers, and TO
clubs persons subscribing for five copies.
nj the rnir OF 81 80 year: in all cnscs nayme nj