Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-31
PROSPECTUS
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL


"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL"
II PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
| ton, in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper Il should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the pohcy II
will advocate
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prn-
ciples of the Democratic party Of the Uted States.
II does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
meDt ofthe Government except in so far as an In
dependent maintenance of the doctrnD OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
Il will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind faitery Of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiments which common 10 the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton Of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be land il will endeavor 10 deserve the utle) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of that great party the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con,
stituton as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO 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
reserved authority Of the States by the agent OF
their own creation. ieE L,s..,-.1e a--sI X
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Constitution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the edectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former 'sNs
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles ofits action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair in
terpretation Of its language and spirit and that II
The exercise of constitutional porer for the duect
attainment of which il has no de!egattot Of poicer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers ml,st be
used for 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. 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 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
men of all their domestic concerns-while II 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 SENrrNEI will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exgencies,
and Correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frnness with libefalty
and make its highest ends consist with the srictesi
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 rs
| essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
| and the ambitious restessness OF others, COM
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself aNr- t.f pDH
Our settled determination TO repel interference
! from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries unlSs 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonsirance, and, If need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly deensire, II must sometimes be
apydyent[v dPRrressive. Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full Of important movements, commercial and
| politi.al 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 continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out anarchica despotism. We are the
| only people whose own land, without colonial de.
/ tendencies is washed by the two great oceans oi
| the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized hie, and 10
human proeress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people hving under one
| government. continent, TO great extent, I'M
explored and exhausiless IN its yet hidden wealth
5 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
inQs of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des
| tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst
| ton OF the millions Of the world And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which It is called
| A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, if properly directed, mus
! make our confederacy the harbinger of peace &c
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter OF III
| destiny. Ea
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bott
and earnest foreign policy such as tne conoi'ion
| the country demands; but IL will advocate II unde
the flag ofihe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spoiless hono'
and unmpeachable good faith OF the country. lf
be respectable at home and abroad, and TO be grea
in the eyes Of the world it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that u
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimons tc
the rights of others, and firm and lmmoveaole u
insisting on its own. IL must, in line, be true tt
its own interests, rights and honor-it cannot ther
be false to those Of other nations. -
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall %
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavo
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
democratic principles we shall cordially supper
and defend. Its enemies IN the field or In anbusl
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de
nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we exten'
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentineils th'
rival Of no press of its own party-the persona
enemy of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has ou
hest wishes for its success in the establishment Q