Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-29
PROSP CTUS
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL


II PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
j ton, in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing So il is proper / should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy il,
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party of the United States.
it 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.
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II 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 il 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 the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituon as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, 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
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Consttution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectualy 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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO strict and fair in
hat
shall not seek to attain indirectly objectthrough
the exercise Of Constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which il has 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 IL will labor TO
incucate 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 II con-
tents itself with guarding the confcderacy 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 will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
1 cided; but should temper frmness with lberality
and make lis highest ends consist with the strictest
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. tr eF
| 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, a COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
isef
Our settled determination TO repel Interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il 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 foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war. trsl
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive I;
but to be properly dtensive, it must sometimes be
apparently aggreSsire. Our administration should
be vgilant, 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 il 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
a worn-out, anarchical 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 TO civilized life, and TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
infa and NM exfe
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A contiuent TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustIess IN its yet hidden wealth
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 sea, lying oil around
us, look TO 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, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superstL
tion OF the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which IL is calleds ?
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 E,f.ss
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate il under
the nag oil the c0untry-noWhere else. lts foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess 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 magnanmous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on It's own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights and honor--it cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations. & sau
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 or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce.
To our future brethren OF the press we extend
the hand offriendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival OF no press Of its own party--the personal
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 il came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
TERMS: For the Daily paper, s10 a year. IN ad-
vance. For the Tri-weekly, SIS year 10 single
oI..l..