Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-21
PROSPECTUS s
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL
or rHE

MEL
In doing SO, /, is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy IL
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the Unted 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 It's
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. Il 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-
ZION 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 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-
stitution as 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 10 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 States--under
the Constituton--and thus by seduously 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 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 sndirecty an object through
the exercise of constitutional porvcv, for the drecf
attainment Of which il has no delegation Of poscer.
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
inculcaie this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy THAT this Government will besi
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
Of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerns-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 ii.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
cided; but should temper 6rmpess with liberaty
and make its highest ends consist withihe strictes
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be It's 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 resthssness of Others COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
isef. r.af
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt US 10 avoid il in the affairs of other
tries, nniss by their foreign or colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security cndan-
gercd or our interests invaded. For when the
selish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, ky
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properIv defensire. Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressirr. Our administration should
bc vigiant, watchful, and energetic. The world
is full 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 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 a continent with no neighbors but a colony and
a worn-out, anarchical dcspotsm. 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 esseniial 10 civilized life. and L.
human progress-onr mineral and manufacturing
re e-ources more vast-ouriactes 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 m It's yet hidden wealth
at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are AT our doors, or mus
be made through our own limns. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles Of the sea, lying al around
Us, look TO us the rising power, through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful inauencfs, ,As bless
ings Of liberty, c:yih@sion, and religion, des-
tined 10 triumph over the batbarisn and supersti-
tion OF the millions OF the world And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is calledi
A mission so full Of hope though so laden with
responsibility which, II properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as wcli as the peaceful arbiter Of it,
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate bold
and earNer foreign policy, such az the condition OF
the country demands; but il win advocate il under
the flag ofihe couniry--nowbere else. lts foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at homo and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
hut what Is right. and submit 10 nothing that II
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabie in
insisting on it's own. II must. in fine. 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
20 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. t
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 its success in the establishment OF
the grea, principles upon which tcame into power;
and in lis honest labors TO attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL It's friend and coadjutor.
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