Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-22
PROSP ECTUS
..wAsHInGToN SENTINEL.

OF THE
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL
r PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
III ton, in September, political newspaper, nn-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl-
MEL. osAe ~ slnf
In doing so, il is proper / should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy il
will advocate. 3, '9Rig4a 3sarf 4e
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes of the Democratic party of fhs Uaitsd 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. W .H3t 83 RN 1 Ta sla
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. IL will seek 10
be land it will endeavor 10 deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States. iy. atlxg W. ID aA Jaeg Z
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
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others to the States, or TO their separate govern
mehts. 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. ~ f ia s6as %
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, it will the more eectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former. ie9 t4la is,.
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 II
shall not seek TO attain iadirealy obectthrough
the exercise Of constitutional po1cer, for the dtyec
attainment Of which it has delegation Of polosr.
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. l1 lf2taA ai
In respect to the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II 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 to exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the Individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eonceynswhile 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
b
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy 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 liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country upon each occss sion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue. ffi9 7tiGs
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 restlrssness Of others, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
iseE h.'fs' s..It ss.R .hA '..'a
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun-
tries nnless by their foreign 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, IL need be, by
war. A 81 y, .,..,.,,.t ~
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but TO be properly defsnsire, IT must sometimes be
apparentig aggressipe. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu 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 II. We cannot
avoid il 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
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-ouT mineral and manufacturing
resources more vsst-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
AT our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through 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 barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is caledi
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
ava cdTNtA JoIct&W pcfsfy, bNSM ~ LAO
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spoiless honor
and unmpeachable 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 TO nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnsnimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations,
Such, then, 10 the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 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-
nouncc.
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 its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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