Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-13
PROSPE ECTU s
OF THE
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL"

r PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing So il is proper should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy IL
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United Sfafes
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 IL
views. ss
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II viii
seek public support by the bold avowd OF the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be land il will endeavor to deserve the tite) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stituton as a compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO IL,
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, usurpation 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 Consttution-and thus by sedulousy 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 a.
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
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
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of Constitutional potcer for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation of poioer.
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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-that this Government will beS
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 concsrns-while il con-
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 progressive
foreign policy as 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 frmness with hberality
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 vii
/ pursue
The national policy Of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o.
i spf Of fhe Of he
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, com.
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself.
! Our settled determination 10 repe interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, nness 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 nfringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway Of our commerce q
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy mus,
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly defensfre il must sometimes be
apparently aggressire. 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 il. We cannoi
avoid il il 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
| 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 10
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 exhaustess IN it's 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 all around
us, look TO us the rising power, through the
agency OF whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though pesceful 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 II Is called
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confcderacy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but IL will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unirnpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and to be grest
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that IL
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on is own. II must in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights. and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
Snch, 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 the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce. fess9
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-tho personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame 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, $40 year, IN al.
vance. For the Tri-weekly, IS year TO single
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or more copies, at the rate of SO year. For the
| Weekly, 50 year TO single subscribers, and 10