Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-20
PROSP ECTUS
-.wAsHINCTON SENTINEL,

q
"WASHINGTON sENTINEL.o
IT PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
u ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing So ii is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy ii
will advocate. 3t1giHa kA
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of tho Uited States
il does not propose 10 be the organ Of any Depart
ment of 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. .t a.s laN
II viii 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 10 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 (and it will endeavor to deserve the tile) 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-
stituton as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
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 States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more effcctualy 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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to a strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exercise Of constitutional Yoicer for the dirccf
attainment of which il has no delegGtion Of poioer.
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 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 domsstie ooncerns--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
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the stricest
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
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iselE -,s., u, tt..
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign 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 nfringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce q
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 TO be properly defensipe 4 must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Dur administration should
be vigilant wstchful, 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 il we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its DESTINY than
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 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 A contioent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustiess IN its yet hidden wealth
at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or mus
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia, |
Africa and the isles OF the sea, lying al around
US, look TO us as 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 des
tined to triumph over the barbarism aud supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 20 lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed must
make our confcderacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; But il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spoiless honor
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 Il |
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous 10 |
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in |
insisting on its own. Ii must in fine, be true to |
lis own interests, rights. and honort 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 freads OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and delend. 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
best wishes for It's success in the establishment OF
The great principles upon which il came into power
and in It's honest abors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL It's friend and coadjutor.
IT.