Washington sentinel., 1854-06-20
PROSPECTUS u s
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

i ton, in September, political newspaper un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTIi
MEL.
In doing so il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
viii advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of he United States.
il does not propose TO 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 It's opinions and express its
views
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il 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 10
be (and it 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-
stitution as compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 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
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. a
upon the basis of the rights Of the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more eectually 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 10 strict and fair in
depreciation Of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly objecithrough
the exercise of constitutional poorer, for the direct
attainment of which it has no deiegation of 1oscsr
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 best
promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
Of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic conceras-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
honor Of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
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.
weakness Of some of the nations Of the Old World
and the ambitious restlessness of others, com.
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iselE la sH
Our settled determination 10 repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to 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 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonslrance, and, II need be, ay
war. @
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive /;
but to be properly defensire, it must sometimes be
apparcRtly aggrossive. 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. 1t is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have it. We cannot
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake IN the WOru ana It's QeSluly, liluH
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-
tendencies 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
resources more vast-our facilities md capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government A continent, 10 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, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, ASA,
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 peaceful Influences, the bless
inSs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions ofthe world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II is called
A mission so full of hope, though so 'aden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace &c
the world, as well as the peaceful arber of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bolo
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition O
the country demands; but il will advocate IT under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. Ie
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 10 nothing that u
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous &c
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable IL
insisting on its own Ii must. in fine, he true &c
lis own interests rights, and honorit 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 endeavol
| 10 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
| democratic principles we shall cordially snppor
! and defend Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on oil proper occasions de
/ nounce.
| To our future brethren of the press we exten'
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is th'
| rival Of no press of its own party-the persona
| enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has on
best wishes for lis success in the establishment {
! the great principles upon which il came into powe
and in its honest abors to attain such an end
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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