Washington sentinel., 1854-03-02
PROSPEC
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

r PROPOSE 10 publish in the city OF Washing
j ton, in September, political newspaper un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and The policy II
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin-
cples of the Democratic party Of ts United States.
il does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
ment ofthe 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 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 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 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 as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in it, 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 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 States-under
the Constitution-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
ercse no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO a strict and fair in
depreciation Of its language and spirit; and that il
hall oft oh, ,oh
the exercise Of constitutional pooer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation of p0scer
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 1t will labor TO
incucate 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-whie 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 DEF
cided; but should temper firmness with iberality
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 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 repe interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid it in the affairs Of other coun-
tries, unless by their foreign colonial policy
peace should be threatened our security endan-
gered, or our interests invaded For when tho
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy whichinfringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and nlrendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonsirance, and, if need be, by
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be properly detensire it 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 Ii is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have II. 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
worn-out anarchical despotisni. 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 essential TO Civilized lie, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast--our facilities 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 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, Asia
Africa and the isles of the sea. lying all around
u.s. look 10 VS. 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 rehgon, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism 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 II Is called!
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter of its
destiny
The SENTINEL will. therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but II VIII advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
and uniinpeachable good faith of the country To
be respectable at home and abroad and to be great
in the eyes of the world, it 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 immoveable in
insisting on its own. 1t must, in fine, he true 10
its own 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 endeavor
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 il came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadlutor.
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