Washington sentinel., 1853-10-16
PROSPECTUS
WASHINGTON SENTINEL.

II
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, it is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy il
will ady cate
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cples 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 an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
Il will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. h will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of hae
sentiments which are 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 il will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic ner'y Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 II,
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, 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 Statss-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more effectualy strengthen
and perpefuate 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
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise Of constitutional p0icer for the direct
attainment Of which il has no delegation Of poscer
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 oigthe
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party Il will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-that this Government win best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxions TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic c0ncer,s-while It con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy 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 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 liberaiity,
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 ofthe 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 our domestic concerns, will
prompt 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 our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt a foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly 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 defssiUe, it must sometimes be
apparently aggressire 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 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
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 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 continent, to 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,
nd he isl nj he sea
MS, 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 il is called?
A mission SO full Of hope, though SO laden with
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate a bold
the country demands; but it will advocate il 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, il 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 TO
its own interests, rights, and honor-it 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 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
epemy 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 labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SKSTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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