Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-19
PROSPECTUS
.WAsHINCTON SENTINEL

| In doing so, il is proper ! should make known
the principles IL will maintain, and the policy Il
| will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in SO far in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent It's opinions and express lis
| 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 The
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek TO
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States. a s.s
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 II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with 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, 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, 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 il
shall not seek TO attain sndirectly objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional pooey for the direet
attainment of which il has no delegation of poioer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such 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
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 will suit itself to the exigences.
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and do
cided but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the stretest
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 on
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 il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be Threatened, our security endan-
gered, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be property defensive it must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vgilant, 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 it if 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 a continent, with NO neghbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchical despotism. We the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
human progrcss-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. continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
lie at feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at DOORS or must
be made through 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, 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 il is calleda
A mission so full Of hope, though laden with
responsibility, which, il 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 OF
the country demands; but il will advocate it 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 is
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 10
its own interests rights, and honor--it 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 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--the personal
enemy Of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which Il 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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