Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-19
PROSPECTUS s
swAsHNGTON SENTINEL"
or THE

TT PROPOSE 10 publish in the city OF Washing
Il ton, in September, political newspaper, III, nn
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENIl-
MEL ai
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy u
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples Of the Democratic party of the Unitsd States
does not propose 10 be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in 80 far as an IN
dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express IT.
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto thu
people by blind lattery of their rulers. II VIII
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States. .stttH
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 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, 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 States-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 ofthe
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action that Congress shall
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 10 attain indireetly obecthrougb
the exercise of constitutional poirer for the direct
attainment of which il has delegation of potcer.
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
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 eoneerns-whe 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de.
cided; but should temper firmness with lberality
and make It's highest ends consist with the strictesl
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
If 90 h. f I'll.
and the ambitious restl..ssness OF others, a COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iselE
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other
tries, nRi,ss by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests OF other nations prompt a 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 romonstrance, and, If need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensire il must sometimes be
apparently aggressire. Our administration should
be vigiant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is fuu Of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. Il is time we had an American
foreign policy We must have Il. We cannot
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 a continent with no neighbors but colony and
a worn-out, snarchcal de.poiism. We are the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
is washed by the two great oceans Of
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and to
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing |
resources more yasi-onr facilities and capacity for
internal aad foreign commerce more extended
than those OF any other people living under one |
government. A continent, TO q great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless its yet hiddea 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
ngs Of liberty civilization, and religiea, are des-
lined 20 triumph over the barharism and supersti-
ion OF the millions Of the world. And shall such |
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and /
lci upon the high mission 10 which il is called |
mission so full Of hope, though SO laden with |
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
make our cpAfedesacy the harbinger Of peace TO |
he word, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of It's
iestiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
md earnest foysigH policy, such the condition OF
he flag ofthe country-nswhere else. It's foreign |
,olcy must be consistent with the spotless honor
md unimpeachable good faith Of the country To
,e respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be greBi
n the eyes Of the world, il must esk fof nothing
'ut what is right, and submit 70 nothing that u
wrong. II mist be liberal and magnsnimous 10
he rights Of Others, and firm and immoyeable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10 |
Is own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot thea
,e false 20 those OF other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall BE-
,uided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor |
o be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support 1
md defend. Its enemies IN the fed or in ambusI
We shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de-
iounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
he hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
ival Of no press of its own pary-the personal
,nemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
rest wishes for Us in the establishment OF
he great princineS upon which il came into power; |
-, IN its honest labors 10 attain such an end II /
will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdjutor.
TERMS: For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN al
vsnce For the Tri.weeky, SIS year 10 single |
subscribers, and TO clubs persons subscribing for
or more copies, at the rate Of s. year. For the