Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-17
PROSP ECT u s
or THE
.vyAsHINGToN SENTINEL"

| L Z E
@WAsHINGTON sENTINEL.v
r PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
L ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, it is proper should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy It
will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples OF the Democratic party Of ts Ussted fates
il does propose 10 be the organ OF any uePnri-
aent ofthe Government, except IN so far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views
II will not be ambitious to commend itself 20 the
people hy a blind fatiery of their rulers. II VIII
scek public snppoE BY Gge i,oI Syowal Of the
s.Yti:..prfs r,t,rh are COMMON TO tie genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
lion of all such may conflict with Them from
whatever quarter they may come. Il viii seek TO
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the tte) 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-
sttution 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, 10 their separate governs
nents. The exercise Of amy powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, ususpatlon 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 Statas-under
he Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
he latter il will the more eflectually 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 lis action that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO strict and fair in
;erprctaton of its language and spirit; and that It
shall not seek TO attain i1aiyecfy object through
he exercise of constitutional potcer, for the direct
attainment of which it has delegation Of potcer.
In other words, all powers exercised must 90
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
nsed for no purpose except such as Is clearly IN
tended by the Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
Government the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. II will labor to
,ncucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in-
ternal policy this Government will best
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
Of the Sates by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
! by leaving TO the individual States the manages
ment of all their domestic cconcerRs--while it con-
| tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing theforegn policy
| of the country to the promotion of the common
| interests, and defence of the common rights, and
i honor of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencies,
/ and correspond with the expanding interests of
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
4 cided; but should temper frmness with lberality
and make lis highest ends consist with the strctest
/ princpcs OF iustice. The real interests of the
1 country, upoa cach occasion demanding attention,
will be It's 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 ofthe nations of the Old World,
! and the ambitious restlessness of others, COM
1 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 coun-
tries, mness by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, or 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 a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, hy
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed be defensive;
but to be properly dejeastre, it must sometimes be
appayentiy aggreSsice. 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 il if we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
of continent with no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We the
only people whose own land, without colonial de-
| tendencies, is washed by the twp great oceans of
| the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized life and 10
| human progress-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. A continent, TO a great extent, un-
! explored and exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth
IS AT our feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are at our doors, must
| be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
ns, look 10 the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
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
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which il is called
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, ii properly directed, must
make our confederacy the hanbnger of peace to
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate cold
and earnest foreign, policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate it under
the flag ofthc country-nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and to be great
, IN the eyes oi the WOrid, IL must HOlHuS
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong. IL must be liberal and nagnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on It's own. II must. in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights, and honor-t cannon 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
~ he honest and truthful The true friends o
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. lis enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose. and on all proper occasions de-
nouncc. AttE
To our future brethren of the press we extend
the hand offricndy greeting The Sentinel is the
rival of no press of its own party-thc personal
enemy of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment
the great principles upon which it came into power;
and in its honest abors TO attain such an end it
will find the SENTINEL. its friend and coadjutor.
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