Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-08
PROSPECTUS u s
OF THE
..WAsHINGToN SENTINEL.O

der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL 3u IA
In doing 80, IL is proper should make known
the principles it win maintain, and the policy il
will advocate fH.s# q #Eg ~ ~.
II will support cordially and earnestly 9prin-
cipes of the Democratic parry Of The Unaed 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. c5 no .tt4r f~a
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself TO the
people by blind fatiery 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-
ion of all such as may coBfict with them. from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
I've (and will endaavof 10 deserve the titie) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of thai great party that the States formed the
Inion between them by the ratification Of the Con-
Sttution as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO It,
AS their common agent. the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation Of all
Others 10 the States or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated s, therefore, an usurpation OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent or
their own creation. egf sGI ~ yQi 4.ft
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the, States-under
the Constituton--andt thus by sedulously guarding
the latter il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuste the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles ofits action that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according 70 strict and fair in
depreciation ofits language and spirit; and that II
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
nj o1DJ the
attainment of which il has delegation Of po,oer.
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by the Constitution. lHE
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
ternal policy that this Government will besi
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 conesyns-while ii con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion Of the common
interests and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing IL.
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencies
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberality
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 restlcssness of others, COM
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination to repsl Interference
from abroad with domestic concerns, will
prompt US 10 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 remonstranee, and, if need be, NY
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive ;
but 10 be properly defensipe. Il must sometimes be
aypdyentiv aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
s 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
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with neighbors 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 20 civilized life and 10
human prooress-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 A contiue 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustIess IN its yet hidden wealth
$ at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which al our doors, or 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
ngs Of liberty, civilization and religion, are des
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superSti-
ton 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 called2
mission so full OF hope, though laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbipger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest Iorsign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate under
the hag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the 'spoiiess honor
and unimpeachabc good faith OF the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be grest
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that ~
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnahimous 70
the nghis Of Others, and firm and ifnnoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
lis 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, snail 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 y,
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand OF offriendly greeting The Sentinel is ths
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 end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
TERMS Forthe Daily paper, $40 year, IN ad-
vance. For the Tri.weekly, IS year to single
subscribers, and 10 clubs persons subscribing for
or more copies, nj the rate Of SO year. For the
Weekly, s2 year to single subscribers and 10
clubs or persons subscribing for five or more copies
n n Ill