Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-27
PROSPECTUS s
OF THE
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

M
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL. .etts tt
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy u
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of tho United States
il does not propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in SO far as an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines OF thai
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by a blind fattery of their rulers. II VIII
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemnai
ton OF all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and it 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
stituton as compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO il
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in IL 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 o.
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-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 ofthe
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 10 strict and fair in
terpretaion of iGs language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek to attain indtrectly an through
the exercise of constitutional pofcer, for the dire
attainment of which il has no delegation of po,cer.
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 10
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 70 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concey7is--while it
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
Of the country 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence OF the common rights, and
honor of the States composing il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such 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-
cded; but should temper firmness with liberafty
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 in the course the SENTINEL viii
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 ambitious al n others n
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination 10 repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unltSs by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt a foreign
or colonial policy which iniringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war. SOD
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defsnsice, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressipe. 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
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF continent, with no neighbors but colony and
a worn-out, anarchical 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 life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
- Il.
government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or musi
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 over the barbarism and supersti-
tion of the millions OF the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which II Is calledi
A mission so full OF hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, ii properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF iis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unmpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that IL
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanirnous 10
The rights Of Others and firm and immoveablc in
insisting on its own. Ii must, in hne, be true TO
IFS 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 shah endeavor
10 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 of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and cosdjutor.
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