Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-19
PROSPECTUS s
OF THK
.wAsHINGTON SENTINEL

III PROPOSE TO publlsh In the city OF Wasnlng-
der the the n name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper / should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy it
will advocate
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party of the United States
il does 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 a ai YEA s.tE
4 Il will not be ambitious to commend tselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common 10 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 it will endeavor to deserve the title) 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-
stitution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated to 1t,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of all
others TO the States, to their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an 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 States-under
the Constituton-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter it will the more efectually 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 offs language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek 10 attain indirecty an objectthro
the exercise OF constitutional po1cey, for the dtrea
attainment Of which it has no obligation Of polcey.
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. Il will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy y:-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 oonceras-while it 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 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 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 oi
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 tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 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, 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, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defeaSiUe IL must sometimes be
apparently aggressirc. 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 il. We cannot
avoid il il 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 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 more essential 10 civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast--our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those OF any other people living under one
government continent, 10 great extent un-
explored and exhaustIess IN its yet hidden wealth
at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
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
u.s. look 10 us as the rising power through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ings of liberty civilization, aud religion are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarlsm 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 it is called?
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world as well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
7 The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but it will advocate it under
policy innst be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be especable 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 10 nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabe IN
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own Interests rights and honor--t 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
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-
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 success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into poweri
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
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