Washington sentinel., 1854-03-04
PROSPECTUS S
/ OF THE
aWASHINCTON SENTINEL


will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples OF the Democratic party Of the United States.
II does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government, except in so far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
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 10 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. II 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-
sttution compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
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, 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 Statss--under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
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
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional pO,cer, for the direct
attainment Of which it has no delegation of poicer.
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. 1t will labor TO
inculcate 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 conceyRS--while it
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights and
honor of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exgencies
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
country. That policy should be energetic and des
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaty
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 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, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
/ iself
/ Our settled determination to repel interference
! from abroad with domestic concerns, will
! prompt to avoid it in the affairs Of other coun
/ 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 nringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, ly
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive;
but to be property detensirc, it must sometimes be
apparently aggressive Our administration should
be viglant, watchful and energetic. The world
is full OF important movements, commercial and
| political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. 1t is time we had 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 despotism. We the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans of
varied and more essential to civilized life. and TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those OF any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent un-
explored and eXhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe Asia
Africa, and the isles of the sea. lying all around
IL sl,, .l.. a..
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences. the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, des-
tined to 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 called
mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger OF peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter of lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands but it will advocate il under
the flag the couniry-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 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 magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
INSISTING on Us own. IL must. In nne, be true to
its own 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
to 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-
uounce.
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--thc 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 it came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the sEsfssELjts friend and coadjutor.
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