Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-10
PROSPE ECTU s
OF THE
"WASHINGTON sENTINEIu

THE
WASHINGTON SENTINEL.1
i II PROPOSE TO publishin the city of Washing
i ton, in September, political newspaper, nm
MEL.
j In doing so, it is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy it
i will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
ciples of the Democratic parry 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.
It will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
Ibe (and il will endeavor 70 deserve the tifle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
i 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 it,
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
i their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
/ upon the basis of the rights Of the States-under
| the Constitution-and thus by seduousy guarding
/ the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuae the former.
With regard TO the exercise Of the powers Of the
! Federal Government the SENrIsEL 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
depreciation of its language and spirits and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional poicer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation of poorer
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.
4 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
terna 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 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 exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with iberality
and make its highest ends with the strctest
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guile 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 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 to repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt avoid it in the affairs of other coun-
tries, maless by their foreign colonial policy
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 rights,
i and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defenstue, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be viglant, watchful, 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
4 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
only people whose own land without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans of
the world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and to
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
! internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under
government. continent, to great extent un-
explored and exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth
is 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 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 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 TO which it is caede
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confcderacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest policy such as the condition OF
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
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 is
wrong. 1t must be liberal and magnaninous to
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabie IN
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
its own interests rights, and honorit cannot then
. be false to those of other nations.
II 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 I
!, democratic principles 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 il came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
TERMS For the Daily paper, $40 year, IN ad-
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or more copies, at the rate of SO year. For the
| Weekly 50 year TO single subscribers, and TO
clubs or persons subscribing for five or more copies,
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