Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-04
PROSPEC TU s
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL"


aWASHINGTON SENTINEL.o
r PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
Il ton in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, it is proper / should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
1t 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 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 tselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t 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 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 il,
as 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, 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 Statss-under
the Constituton-and thus by seduously 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
the principles of its action, that Congress shall
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
/ Al q
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exercise OF constitutional potoer, for the direct
attainment Of which it has no delegation of po1csr
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. Ii 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
rnent of all their domestic conoerns-while it
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 will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irmness with iiberaity
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes,
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 restessness of others, COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself
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 or 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 our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
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 properly defensire il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full OF important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II Is Time we ndu an american
foreign policy. We must have it, We cannot
avoid il 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical dcspotism. 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 10
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
/
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government A continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
al 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 all around
us look 10 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, des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions of the world And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which it is called
A mission full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, il 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 1t will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Il 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 honorit cannot then
be false 10 those of other nations.
Such them is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall cndeavor
To be honest and truthful. The true friends oi
'smocratic principles we shall cordially support
a,a defend. Its enemies IN the field or in. ambush
we shat oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
To our f,,ure brethren Of the press we extend
the hand of frienGlv greeting The Sentinel Is the
I rival % Of no press OF its own party-the personal
enemy Of none Of the ot2er.
The prcsen, Democratic a administration has our
best wishes for its success in the estapnshment OF
the great principles upon which itca'ne INTO power
and I'm its honest labors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
| TERMS: For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN ad-
vance For the Tri-weekly s5 year TO single