Washington sentinel., 1854-07-15
PROSP ECTU S
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL
OF THE

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"wAsHINGTON SENTINEL"
II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper I should make known
the principles it viii maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes ofthe Democratic party Of the United States.
il does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment ofthe Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines of thai
party may represent its opinions and express it,
views.
It will 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 to the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t will seek to
be (and will endeavor TO deserve the title) 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-
srtution compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others 10 the States, or TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton 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 Statss-under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more 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 ex
ercise 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 |,
shall not seek to attain NidreLy object through
the exercise Of constitutional po.csr for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation Of pocer
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 viii sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. Il will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine Of Democratic in
ternal policy:-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 10 preserve liberty; and
BY leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic eonesyns-whie 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
honor Of the States composing it.
| d
foreign policy as 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 frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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, CON-
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself. s l5
Our settled determination to repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid it 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, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but TO be properly defensive, it must sometimes be
| rpporcntlp aggyessire 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. u 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
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
| of continent with no neghbors but colony, and
worn-out, snsrchical 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 20
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
1 internal and foreign commerce more EXTENDED
| than those Of any other people living under one
| government A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhsustless IN its yet hidden wealth
| at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
4 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
extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ngs Of liberty civilization and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
lion Of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
! act upon tine high mission to which il is called
\ A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF IFS
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition oi
the country demands; but will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be great
| in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that IL
| wrong II must be liberal and magnanmous 10
| the rights OF others, and firm and immovcabe in
| insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true tc
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
1 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.
| 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 pariy-the personal
enemy Of none ofthe other.
The present Democratic Administration has oui
best wishes for its success in the establishment O
the great principles upon which II came into power
and in its homes, ia6ors 10 attain such an end i
will fnd the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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