Washington sentinel., 1854-05-20
PROSPECTUS s
OF THE
"WAsHINGTON sENTINEL.v


| the principles it will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of tho United States
il does not propose be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government, exceptn SO far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express lis
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 condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be land 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-
stitution 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 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 Statss-under
the Consttution--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 ofits action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according strict and fair in
terpretaton of its language and spirit and that 1t
shall not seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exercise Of Constitutional poic, for the dsrect
attainment of which it has no delegation of po,rer.
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
Governments the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party II will labor 10
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna 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 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 il.
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 de-
cided but should temper firmness with hberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the strlctest
principles Of ifsfice. 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 restessness of others, COM
| mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| iself.
! Our settled determination to repe interference
/ from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs Of other coun
tries, ualess 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 nfringes 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, Ivy
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be property defestre, it must sometimes be
alparentlY aggressiue Our administration should
be vigiant watchful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade and
American power. It@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 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 to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under ore
government. continent, to great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is at 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 to us as the rising power, through the
,f,. ,b,co ,lfs nd eve
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
a people refuse TO 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 our contederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the conditon OF
the country demands but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe 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 TO nothing that is
wrong 1t must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabe IN
insisting on its own. 1t must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor--lt cannot theh
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 nssambush
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
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power;
| and In lis honest labors 10 attain such an END ~
| viii find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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