Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-16
PROSPECTUS s
af OF THE
.WASHINGTON SENTINEL


OF THE
.WASHINCTON SENTINEL,
IT PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
III ton, in September, political newspaper, UNI
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, it is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cpes of 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.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind iattery Of their rulers. 1t will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemns
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, 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, usurpaton 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 Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more edectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers ofthe
Federal Government the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action that Congress shall
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according 10 strict and fair in
depreciation OF its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain 5ndtyety object through
the exercise of constitutional poorer for the direct
| attainment of which it has no dele CATION Of pove,
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be 4
used for no purpose, except such is clearly in-
| tended by the Constitution. A
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
| 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 concerns--while it con-
tents itself with guarding the confcderacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
i 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
/
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 strictest
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 -
e essentially aggressive In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restlessness Of others, COM
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
, isef
Our settled determination to repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid it in the affairs of other coun-
tries, n,ess by their foreign colonial policy
4 peace should be threatened, security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests OF other nations prompt foreign
! or colonial policy which nfringes 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 EaS
/ Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
1 but to be properly defensiUe it must sometimes be
/ apparently aggressive. Our administration should
1 be viguant, watchfu and energetic. The world
| is full Of important movements, commercial and
| political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. 1t 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, 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 to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-ourfacilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
| government. continent, to great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth
is al 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
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 are des-
| tined to triumph over the barbarsm 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 it is calleda
| A mission full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter of its
| destiny.
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate it under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
4 and uniInpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 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 magnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and iInmoveabie in
/ insisting on its own. II must IN fine, be true to
its interests, rights, and honor-lt cannot then
| be false to those ofothcr nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
| guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
| fo he honest and truthful. The true friends o
democratic principles we shall cordially support
/ and defend. It's 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-thc personal
enemy of none of the other.
y The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
| and in its honest labors to attain such end il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
/ TERMS: For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN ad-