Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-06
PROSPECTUS
"wAsHINGToN SENTINEL"

r PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, it is proper / should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate. 4tf k+
Ii viii support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes Of the Democratic party of nss United States.
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. os.4uls.a5 sCE q. re- ' q
II will not be ambitious TO commend jtselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. It will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which are common. to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
lion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t will seek to
be land will endeavor to deserve the tiile) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States. f
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-
stitution a compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IT,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, 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, an usurpation of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. ,..s, - .t,lsai,f
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the States-under
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter il will the more e6ectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former. 3ss, f... fa, sf :.:,.
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 II
shall not seek TO attain indirecty an object through
the exercise of constitutional po,0er, for the dlrect
attainment Of which il has no delegation Of potoer
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 10
inculcste 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 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic conesrns--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 II. Il tfoirE
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 iberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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 or
olypas s<,fSo anfth Soff Vorld
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, q COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iself ..,- ,...---.. -.-,,-- s.-,----.1-
Our settled determination to repsl interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
prompt us to avoid Il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries nnkss 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 q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, by
war. f-r
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive |;
but 10 be properly Gejs,isipe. must sometimes be
appare,tiv aggressire. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full Of important movements, commercial and
politics al, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. 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 nelghbors but colony, and
worn-out anarchical despotsm. 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 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more ysstour facilities and capacity for
int and
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
al our feet. European trade seeksthe great East
through avenues which are al 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 are dcs
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst-
ton Of the millions Of the world And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II is called
A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confcdcracy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world as well as the peaceful arbter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest oreig, policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate 1t 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 10 be great
in the eyes Of the world, II must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that 10
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 honorit 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. ,tt s-+s
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
enemy Of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for ijs success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.
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