Washington sentinel., 1855-03-17
PROSPECTUS S
..wAsHNCToN SENTINEL,

j j ton, in September a political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL.
! In doing so, il is proper l should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of the United States
IT does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, exceptin 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 10 commend itselfto the
people by q blind 6attery of their rulers. Il 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-
ton 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 SKNTMKL will maintain, as fundamental
truth that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution a. compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others to the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, usurpatioo 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 efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the O. Institution, according to strict and fair in
terprei ton of its language and spirit; and that
shall nt seek attain indirectly object through
the Use Of constitutional potoer, for the direct
attainme of which it has no delegation of potcer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose except such as is clearly In
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the L mocratic party II will labor TO
inculcate this c, dinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
ternal policy:-t at this Government will bes'
promote the freed IN 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 o0ncerns-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 IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests Of the
4
| cided; but should temper frmness with hberaty
and make its highest ends consist with the strietest
principles OF justice. The real interests OF the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
| 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 to colonial extension has developed
| SELF
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid IL in the affairs OF other coun
tries, unless by their foreign or 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 infrnges upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
dangerous and unfricndy 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 defensive, il must sometimes be
appayenfly aegressipe. 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 if we would. We have larger interests, and
| a greater stake in the world and itsdestiny than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
| a worn-out, anarchical despotism We are the
olny 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 lie, and tc
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-ourfacilites and capactyf Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those OF any other people living under one
government A continent, TO a great extent, un.
explored and exhaustess In its yet hidden wealth
| H. .kaf EnsI
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us, look 10 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 barbarism and superstl-
| ton of the millions ef the world And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II is calledf
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confcderacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
| The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
| the country demands but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and TO be great
| the eyes Of the WOrin, " must aSk iof hothihk
but what il right, and submit to 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.
i 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
Rest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which y came into power
4 and in its honest labors TO attain such an end "
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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