Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-27
- n
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
k.yN ASUINCTON SENTINEL

w
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper ] should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy u
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes of The Democratic purity of s United States.
II does moi propose be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Government, exceptm so far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views. f#
people by blind fattery Of their rulers II VIII
seek public support by The bold avowal Of the
sentiments which are common 10 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 10
be land will endeavor TO deserve the tltle) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
STATES. t.-ssi
The SENTINEL. will maintain, as fundamental
ruth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution az compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government. and delegated 10 y,
their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usurpaton 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 Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectually 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 th.t 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 II
shall not seek attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which il has no deegation Of 1o,crr.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used4or no purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution lf#4as.
In respect to the internal administration OF The
Government, the SEsTISEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternnl policy that this Government viii 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 conce,ns-while il 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 il.
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 tirmness with liberaty,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
i C.
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, a COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
itself
Our settled determination to rcpel interference
T" from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
o,rI,iI ,,fl ufo Off fllprnn
tries, nnicss by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened 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 a
dangerous and uniriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstranoe, and, II need bes by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive; !;
but to bc property aftrRsirr, il must sometimes be
u appa,fntly agg,rssiw Our administration should
be yigilant watchtul, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade ana
American power. Ii is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests and
n greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neishbors but a colony and
worn out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life. and to
human progrcss--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast--our facilities and capacity Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. continent, TO great extent. mn
explored and exhaustless IN It's yet hidden wealth,
is at feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which arc at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us, look 10 MS as the rising power through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences. the bless
ings Of liberty, civilization aud religion. are dcs-
tined to trinnph over the harbarism aud supersti-
ton Of the millions of the world And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon tho high mission To which il is called
A mission so full Of hope, though laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our coniedcracy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arber Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a 5oh
and earnest torrign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country---nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask tor nothing
but what is right and submit To nothing that Is
wrong. II must he liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, aud firm and immovcabc in
its 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 shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies in the field in ambush
we shall oppose, and on allproper occasonsde-
nounco.
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 pary-tho 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 itcame INTO power;
and in its honest abors to attain such an end il
viii find the SENTINEL. its friend aud coadlutor.
TERMS: For tho Daily paper, $40 year, in ad-
vance. For the Tri-weeky, 50 year TO single
subscribers and To clubs persons subscribing for
5 or more copies, al the rate of 80 year. For the
Weekly 50 n year 10 single subscribers, and TO
clubs persons subscribing for five more copies