Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-30
PROSPECTUS S
OF THE
.WASHINGToN SENTINEL

! i ton, in September, q political newspaper, gn-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL 10 s bYhp G fgfa9nfA
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate. a. sls.tgd M g .,s
Ii VI ! support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States,
II 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 IFS
views, Ja sitf5e.ta e,D3aa4 aBy tg8t
/ Ii will not be ambitious to commend itselft the
people by blind aattery Of their rulers. II 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
tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come II will seek 10
be land it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
| organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. Z, a,a
! The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth Of thai great party that the States formed the
4 Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
! the Federal Government, and delegated TO IT,
as their common agent, the, powers expressly
4 specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others the States, or to their separate govern
menls. 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. td eseie iaiC fesg
/ The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis of the rights Of the States-under
| the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, Twill the more efectually strengthen
4 and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
| Federal Government, the SENTINEL win take as
the principles ofits action, that Congress shall ex
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 it
shall not seek TO attain ipdirectly object through
the exercise of Constitutional poicer, for the direct
attainment of which it has no allegation of po,cer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
4 used for no purpose, except such as is clearly n
| tended by the Constitution. 6
/ In respect TO the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
! policy of the Democratic party, Ii will labor 10
| incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
\ ternal policy: that this Government will besi
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
4 Of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
4 power and more anxious TO preserve hbers, -,
by leaving TO the individual States the ;uaEsge
ment of all their domestic concerRs--whiie il con-
tents itself with guarding the conlederacy 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate suchoa progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
principles of justice The real interests Of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide i'll the course the SENTINEL will
pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
weakness of some of the nations Of the Old World
and the ambitious restlessness of others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
iself ~,
Our settled determination TO repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt avoid il in the affairs OF other coun-
tries, unLess by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
bgered, or our 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 a
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 dfetsiue, il must sometimes be
apparently aggresSiUe Our administration should
be viglant, 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
pa greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
of continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchica despoiism. 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 life and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, 10 a great extent, un-
4 ex xpD nd exh han IpSs m ifs
at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea- lying all around
US, look TO us 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 10 triumph over The barbarlsm and supersti-
tion Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission TO which IL is called
! A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make conlederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter Of lis
| destiny
The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate 5oa
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
| the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag olthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachnble good faith Of the country. To
II
| in the eyes OF the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong Il 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
| It's 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
| ts 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. f0
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 fthe other
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon whichit came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdjutor
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