Washington sentinel., 1854-06-03
PROSP ECTU s
.wAsHINGTON sENTINEI.., },

+ /" Elxs'>t 'Ea II
II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTs
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
It will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples OF the Democratic party of the United States.
1t does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in FAR as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
1t will not be ambitious TO commend elfto 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-
lion 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 tite) 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 it,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an 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, usurpaton of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. ssh
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statas--under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the 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
OF its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional pooer for the drect
attainment of which it has no delegasion 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. 1t will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will besr
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 conceyns--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
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 de-
cided; but should temper firmness with lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
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
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 repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other conn-
tries, unless 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
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy 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 defesire, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressire. 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 it. We cannot
avoid it If we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and IFS 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-
is washed by the two great oceans of
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized life. and TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
cpt &c mo
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 TO us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilizations and religion, are des
lined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
lion Of the millions of the world. And shall such
4 people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which it is called?
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, if properly directed must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
he world as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
md earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
he country demands; but il will advocate il under
he flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless hopor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
De respectable at home and abroad and 10 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
he rights Of Others and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
is own interests, rights, and honorit cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.S
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---thc personal
enemy of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which it came into power;
and in its honest abors to attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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