Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-08
PROSPECTUS s
OF THE
"WASHINGTON SENTINEL"

TT PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
il ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTls
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy ii
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes the Democratic party Of the 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 its opinions and express its
views.
Il will not be ambitious to commend itself TO 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-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be and il will endeavor 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 compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 II,
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
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
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the Statss-under
the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former. ff
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take a.
the principles of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercise 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 idrety an object through
the exercise of constitutional potcer for the diree
attainment Of which it has no delegation Of poa0er.
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. II will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
tcrnal policy that this Government will bes'
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 conceyns-while il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
interests and defence Of the common rights and
| honor OF the States composing il.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such 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 frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctes
principles OF justice. The real interests. Of the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
| will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue
The national policy Of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense o
weakness of some Of the nations of the Old World
IL. .@G~t tkar.
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| iself
| Our settled determination TO repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun-
tries, nnSS by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or 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 q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, il need be, sy
war. ~
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defensive 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. Il is time we had an American
| foreign policy. We must have IT, 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 continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We 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 TO
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more 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
al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, OF must
| be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
| us, look 10 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-
tion of the millions OF the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
| make our confcderacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition oi
the country demands but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
J and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable 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. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must in fine, be true to
its 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 endesvor
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.
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 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 coadjutor
TERMS For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN an.
vance. For the Tri-weekiy, S. year TO single
subscribers, and TO clubs persons subscribing for
OF more copies, at the rate Of SO year. For the
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