Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-11
PROSPECTUS
.wAsHINGToN sENrrNEI.n
OF THE

der the name OF the WASnlSuAON oENIl-
MEL.
\ In doing so, il is proper / should make known
the principles it viii maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment ofthe Government except in so far as an 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 dattery Of their rulers. Il Will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of tho
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. i will seek 70
be and it will endeavor to deserve the title) tho
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth that great party that the States formed tho
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton 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 explicit reservation Of all
others to the States or to their separate govern.
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
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 sedulousy guarding
the latter it 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 A.
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 il
shall seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise OF constitutional p0icey, for the dysct
attainment of which il has no delegation of pocsr.
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 II will labor TO
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternaf polcy:-th 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 il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external vioence 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 exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaity
and make its 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 viii
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
iself
- ipfar -
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs of other coun.
tries, nnss by their foreign colonial policy our
/ peace should be threatened, our security endan.
/ gercd, 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
| war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but to be properly deicnsivc, must sometimes be
| 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 il ii 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
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans Of
the world. Our agricultural productions are moro
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vasour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under ono
government. A continent to a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet. European trade seeks The great East
are n or mn
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us, 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 10 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 it is calleds
mission so 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 as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate il under
the fag ofthe country--nowhcre else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
\ and hnmpcachablc good faith OF the country To
be respectable nj home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
Il tNt' Wnnt ~ UAht. huu suDmt 10 notHiig IN
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting ON its own. Il must, in fine, be true TO
hs own interests, rights, and honorit cannot then
be false 10 those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 be honest aud truthful. The true friends o
dcmocrs,ic principles we shall cordially support
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
the hand of friendly grsrting The Sentinel IS the
rival of no press Of is own party--the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
4 The prcsens Democratic Administration has our
hes, wishes Ior s success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
\ .na,a its h,,sess labors 20 attain such an end II
II ,sIIl 6nd the SExrtSsI It's friend and coadjutor.
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