Washington sentinel., 1853-10-12
PROSPECTUS
WASHINGTON SENTINEL.

ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing So i, is proper ! should make known
the principles it viii maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn-
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United States
Ii 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. 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. II will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth ofthat great party, hatihe States formedthe
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con-
stituton compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in 1t, 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, usurpaton of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
the Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efiectually 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
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that it
shall not seek to attain ndirectiy an object through
the exercise of constitutional ponoer for the direct
attainment Of which it has no allegation of 7oower
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
mculcate 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 it 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 as 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 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 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 MS to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, unless by their foreign 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 infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and if need be, ky
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be properly detemsirc, il must sometimes he
apparently 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
a greater stake in the world and its destiny than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
worn-ont, anarchical despotism. We are the
only people whose own ianu, WUnOul cOlOHial ue-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized life, and TO
human progress-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, un-
explored and exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth.
is at feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
ha ma de fhrpt1 t1uh M Oyivn Eurpnp q
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
ms, look 10 us 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, des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and superst
ton Of the millions of the world And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which it is called !?
"A mission 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 as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
he respectable at home and abroad and TO be great
in the eyes of the world, 1t must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanmous to
the rights of others and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, he true TO
its own interests, rights, and honort cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, them 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. 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 pariy-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present 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.
TERMS: For the Daily paper, SO year, in adj
vance. For the Tri-weekly, $5 year TO single
subscribers and to clubs persons subscribing for
5 or more copies, at the rate Of SO year. For the
Weekly, 50 year to single subscribers, and TO
clubs or persons subscribing for FIVE copies,
IF n uaor m all nj N