Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-15
PROSPECTUS P s
sg OF THE 5
.WAsHINGTON SENTINEL

MEL. tf ss
In doing so, it is proper I should make known
the principles will maintain, and the pohcy It
will advocate. Gs 1g 6st 500
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of tie United STATES
il does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment the Government, except In so far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views #f lt 5f
Il will not be ambitious to commend itseIfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t will
seek public supper, BY the bold avowal q the
Democracy OF the Union, and by the condemns
ion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come II will seek TO
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the tite) tho
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States. sufl
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 a compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, 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. @ @iIgaS 5& @4
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
ne lalter, IL Will the more enectuauy SlreNStAcu
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
he principles Of its action that Congress shall ex-
.rcse no power which has not been delegated by
he Constitution according TO strict and fair in
erpretation Of its languages and spirit; and that i
shall seek to attain indirectly an object through
he exercise of Constitutional poacer for the direct
attainment of which il has delegation Of poacsr
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
nsed for 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 70
nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
!ernal policy that this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
If the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
nent of all their domestic concerns-while il con.
,ents 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 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 frmness with liberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
principles cf justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue. $ s q
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 restlesshess of others, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iself hagR
Our settled determination to repel interference
7 -..I -
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, Mnless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered or our interests invaded For when thes
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 unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war. at @tI tt HsEYa s. Et#t.4
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive;
but to be property defesice, il must sometimes be
apparentiy aggresstre. Our administration should
be vigilant, watcniul, 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 it, We cannot
avoid il ii 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 a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotism We are tho
Tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans Of
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized lfe and to-
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, to a 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
L L. o1Iyp Itr,fs Asia
Africa, and the isles of the sea. lying all around
u.s. look to us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example. and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
inqs of liberty civilization and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and superst-
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 calleda
A 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
aud earnest foreign policy such as the condiuon OF
the country demands; but it will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith Of The country. 10
be respectable al 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
III
tho rirbts of Others and firm and mmoveable in
! insisting on its own. 1t must, in fine, be true to
lis own interests, rights, and honor-i 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
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
hest wishes for its success in the establishment of
the great principles upon which i 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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