Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-13
PROSPECTUS s.
aWAsHINGToN sENTINEI..
OF THE

ii ton, IN 6eptcmDcT, pOiitlcal newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy it
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party of e Untsd 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.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind iattery 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 condemna-
ton Of all such 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 a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution 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 an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or 10 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
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights Of the Statss--under
the latter, il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former. 8-
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
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 10 attain nidiysty object through
the exercise Of constituto'ial poer for the direct
attainment Of which it has no delegation Of poarsr
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. It 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 comcerns-while it con-
i tents itself with guarding the confederacy from.
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
i 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 10 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 strctest
4
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be It's gaide.in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue. Ga taG s@ af1
The national policy of the world in this age is
: essentially aggressive. In the growing sense or
weakness Of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, COM
, mon motive to colonial extension has developed
isef
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
| us IN in fhe Of 9TH
tries, mnless by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be. threatened, security endan-
1 gered, 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance and, if need be, by
4 war 144tS
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be properly detsnsire, it must sometimes be
/ apparently aggrcssiue. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu 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 il we would. We have larger interests, and
| a greater stake in the world and its destiny than
every other people Weioccupy the best portion
/ Of continent, with no neghbors 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
Il
varied and essential to civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
| government. continent, TO great extent, un-
! explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet. European trade seeksthe great East
| through avenues which are at our doors, or must
4 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
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are 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 il is calleds
| A 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 the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate il under
i the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
i'm 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 magnanmous 10
the rights of others, and hrm ana lil'moseaplc IN
insisting on its own Ii must, IN hne, De true 10
its own interests rights, and honor-t cannot then
/. | be false 10 those of other nations.
Such, then is the chart by which we shall be
. gn;ded. Independent and Free we shall endeavor
/. % he honest and truthful The true friends or
, democratic principles shall cordially support
, | and defend. Its enemies IN the field in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
nounce.
To our future brethren of the press 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 its success in the establishment OF
,he great nrinciples upon W hch il camento power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end 1t
j will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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