Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-22
PROSP ECTUS
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL"

II.
der The name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the pohcy IL
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cipes of the Democratic party o the United STATES
it does not propose to be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government except IN so lar 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 tselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. 1t 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 a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con.
sttution compact; bywhich, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO It,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority OF the States Dy the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL. will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights OF the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take az
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO strict and far IN
depreciation ofits language and spirit; and that Il
shall seek TO attain indirectly an object through
1r for tba Hfrs<g
attainment of which it has no delegation Of poacer
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 policys-that this Government will bes,
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 II 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 IT.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exigencies
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles of Justice The real interests ofOthe
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 oi
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlcssness OF others, COM
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
iselE
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
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 foreign
or colonial policy which infringes 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, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be property defenSiUe il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vglant, 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 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 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 TO civilized life, and 10
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 one
government. continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
8 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 10 us 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 barbariso 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 ~ 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
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent win the spoless nonor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at 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
wrong. II must be liberal aud magnanmous TO
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-it 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
to 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.
70 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 TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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