Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-07
PROSPECTUS
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

wlll advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes of the Democratic party Of ne United States.
Ii does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment the Government, except in SO far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent It's opinions and express It's
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend tselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come Ii will seek to
be (and 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-
stltution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 IT,
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, 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 Staes-under
the Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, il will the more ehectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action, that Congress shall
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according 10 a strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional pouoer, for the direct
attainment OF which il has no delegation Of poacer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such 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 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 domestic concerns-while il
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 as 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 frmness with liberality.
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 reStessness of others, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
itself
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, mnless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests OF other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which nfringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by rcmonstrance and, if need be- by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be property deteRSiUe IL must sometimes be
apparentlV ageYssiue. Our administration should
be vigilant watchfu 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 a colony, and
worn-out, anarchica 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 essential to civilized life. and TO
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 exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth,
is at 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 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
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
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II is called! (!
mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger OF peace to
the world, as well the peaceful arbter of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands but IT will advocate 1t 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 it 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 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
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
enemyt9f none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end 1t
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadlutor.
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