Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-02
PROSPECTUS U S
OF THE
..WAsHINGTON SENTINEL

II PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
| II ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL 4s' a
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party of the Unaed States.
it 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 its
| views
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
| people by blind hattery 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
| ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. 1t will seek to
be land will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated to it,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with 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, usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
| their own creation. 9t
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the Statss--under
| the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectualy 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 strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exercise Of constitutional potcer for the direct
attainment OF which il has delegation of Jo,oer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such is clearly in
tended by the Constitution. fo
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
| tcrnal policy:-that this Government will besi
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 concerns--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 a progressive
| foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
| cded; but should temper irmness 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 fthe nations Of the Old World,
and the ambitious restl'ssness of others, a COM
4 mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
! self
Our settled determination TO repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns will
prompt avoid il in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfrendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, ky
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be properly defensive IL must sometimes be
apparently ae greSSipe. Our administration should
be vgilant, watchful 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 IT, We cannot
avoid il If 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 a continent, with no neghbors but colony and
a worn-out, anarchcal 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 essential 10 civilized life. and 10
human progress-ouT mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities aud capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A confident, TO a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
at our feet European trade seeks the great Eas,
through avenues which are at our doors, 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
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called7
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a Jold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il viii advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-powherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess 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. 1t must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabe in
insisting on its own II must, in fine, be true 10
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
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. lis 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 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 itcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadju,or.
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