Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-11
PR SPECTUS
.WAsHINGTON sENTINEL.v .

IL
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTIs
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy it
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes of the Democratic party Of tho United Sfates.
II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Government, except in so far in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views. s4 8atbN feE
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowai of the
sentiments, which are common 10 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 and 1t 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-
sttution as 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 all
others to the States, 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 sednlously guarding
the latter, ii 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
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 il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly ctthrough
the exercise of constitutional poscer for the direct
attainment of which ii has 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
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
lernal policy this Government will best
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 concer,s-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 a progressive
foreign policy 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 liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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.
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 to colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination TO repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, uness 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 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 defensire, It must sometimes be
apparentiv aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
polite al, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. 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 continent with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
onlypeople whose own land without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans Of
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and essential to civilized life, and to
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 great extent un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 religion are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions of the world And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which it is called
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace to
the world as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition ol
the country demands but il will advocate il under
the flag fthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and &nimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that Is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting its own. Il must, in fine, be true TO
its 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 its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which it came 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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