Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-07
PROSPECTUS s
"WAsHINGTON sENTINEL.n

IL
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL. I M a
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the Uited States
il does not propose 10 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.
1t 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 the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
ion 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 tte) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. 4tra f
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 1t,
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 usurpaiion OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. IA
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
the Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it 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 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 II
shall not seek 10 attain i,idneclLy object through
the exercise Of Constitutional poicer for The diree
attainment Of which it has no desgation Of potcer
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution. 4
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 concernS-while il 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 will suit itself to the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
cided; but should temper frmness with iberality
and make its highest ends consist with the stricest
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
weakness OF some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, a COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
selE
Our settled determination to repsl interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries unless 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 foreign
or colonial policy which infrnges 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, by
war;
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive
but 10 be ,ropeyly dstsHsive. must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. 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 cannot
avoid il Il we would. We have larger interests and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent with neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchcal 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 10 civilized lie. and TO
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
inierna, and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government confident, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
$ al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al 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 religion are dcs-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst-
ton of the millions OF the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called
A mission so full Of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign oicy, 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 spotlcss honor
and unimpe achabe good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes of the world, must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must in fine, be 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
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
to be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies 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--the personal
enemy OF none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its 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.
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