Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-03
PROSP ECTUS


1 IL ton, in September, a political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes OF The Democratic party of the Umsssd States.
it does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
nent of the Government except in so far as an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express liz
| views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of tho
| 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 land il will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as q fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed tho
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
sttution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in It, with an explicit reservation of al
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 States--under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the eTectually strengthen
and perpeidate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL viii take as
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 it
shall not seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exercise of constitutional poicsr, for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation of p0scsy.
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 10 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
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 concerns-while it con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
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 as will suit itself 10 the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and do
cided; but should temper frmness with berality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictcst
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 10
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
self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid it in the affairs Of other coun
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive !;
but to be properly detsnsiUe, II must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiant 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 il. We cannot
| avoid il if would. We have larger interests and
a greater STAKE the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with neighbors but colony, and
olny 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 10 civilized life and 10
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. A continent, to a great extent, I'M
explored and exhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
al hioh ntIrA
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
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph the barbarism and supcrsti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission to which II is calledt
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of ns
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest Jore'gn pohoy, such as the conoiton OF
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--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 il
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Ii must, in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights, and honorit 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-
nounce.
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 lis success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end it
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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| ~ - raid onI II