Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-04
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
"WASHINGTONS SENTINEL

LII ton, IN september pOlticaI newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper l should make known
the principles it will maintain and the policy it
wiz advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cIpcs OF the Democratic party Of Me UMHe1 States.
1t does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Government, except i'll SO far as an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
1t will not be ambitious 10 commend tselfto the
people by blind hattery Of their rulers. It 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-
ton of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t 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 a fundamental
truth ofthat 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 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 SENrlNEi. 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 ef1ectualy strengthen
and pcrpetuate 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
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and lair in
depreciation of its language aud spirit; and that
shall seek to attain indirecy object through
the exercise Of constitutional p0,rer, for the dire1
which I%lp ont fyS,yn nj f1101f,pr
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 10 the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor to
incucate this cardinal doctrine Of Democratic in.
ternal policy that this Government will bcs,
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 roueerns-while it con-
tents itself with guarding the cnnfederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
Of the country 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence Of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing il. @..
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exgencies.
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
eided; but should temper frmness with hberality.
and make its highest ends consist with the stricesi
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 restlcssness Of others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
itself
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt. to avoid it in the affairs Of other coun.
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights.
aud places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfricndy rival, such policy must
be resisted by rcmonstrancc, and, II need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive:
but to he property aettnsise. il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchiul, and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements commercial and
polite al 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 largerintcrests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchcal despotsm. 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
varied and more essential to civilized life and &c
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more 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 great extent, nn.
explored and cxhafstess in its yet hidden wealth.
is at feet. European trade seeks the great Eas,
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
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II is called
A mission 50 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, mus,
make our confcdcracy the harbinger Of peace tc
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreg policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
the flag Of the country-nowherc else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country To
be respectable al home and abroad, and 10 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 tc
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must in fine. he true tc
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
he false to those Of other nations.
Such, then. is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free we shall endcavor
10 be honest and truthful The true friends o.
democratic principles we shall cordially suppor,
and defend. Its enemies in the field or IN ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de.
nouncc.
TO our future brethren Of the press we extend
tho hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival Of no press of its own party--the persohai
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power
and in its honest lahors to attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL it's friend and coadjutor.
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