Washington sentinel., 1854-04-02
PROSPECTUS u S
.wAsHINGToN sENTINEL.o
OF THE

| r PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
| IL ton, in September, political newspaper, nn
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENII
MEL. III
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il viii maintain and the policy il
viii advocate. s&#
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the Unted 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 its opinions and express It's
views. tal
Il 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. II will seek to
be (and il will endeayor to deserve the ttle 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 as compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others to the States, TO their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
Their own creation sa N
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-under
the Constitution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectuay 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
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain inirectly an object through
the exercise Of Constitutional pocer for the direct
attainment of which il has no delegation of potcer
| 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
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal poicy:--that this Government will best
| promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
1 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 coacerUs--whic il con-
| tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
! of the country 10 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 10 the exigencies
country. That policy should be energetic and dc-f
cided but should temper irmness with lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctcst
principles of justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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, COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
iself
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with domestic concerns will
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, unless By their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan-
gered, 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 remonstrance, and if need be, ky
war;
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive;
but TO be properly dtje7istre, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. 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 it il 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony. and
worn-out anarchical dcspotism. 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 minrral 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, to great extent un-
explored and exhausiless 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, 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 peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization and religion, des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission to which il is called!
A mission SO full Of hope, though SO laden with
| responsibility, which, If properly directed must
make our confcderacy the harbinger Of peace to
| the world, well the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny. 81
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate it under
\ tho flag ofthe counry--nowhere else. Its foreign
I policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unlmpeacnaDie gOou idun Vi CouuIy. 10
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, andsyubmit TO nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanmous to
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
IFS own interests, rights, and honorit cannot then
be false to those of other nations. M M 81
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 eQN# a H gflAe'
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 fthc 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 end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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