Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-25
PROSPECTUS
~ AsmlxGios M ssxraNEn.. J,

/
~ AsmlxGTOM sExrIxEn-.
| II PROPOSE 10 publish Ia the cliy of WaskiAa-
| u ton, In September, political as~sparer, IA.
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENT.
MEL
| In doias 80. % is proper I should make known
the principles VIII saintais. and the pci.sy a
| will advocate.
ID will support cordially and earnestly lhs pns
cipIcs ofths Ds~scyasse ysvsy IF fAs Ussssx Ssasa
ment Of the Government, cxeept in 20 far ~ an in
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of tkst
party may represent as opiaioas and empress its
views
Il will NOT be ambitious 10 commsad tsslfto the
people by blind battery Of tasir rulers. w'li
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
| democracy Of the Union, and by the oondemaa-
tion Of all such n may condics with them, ftom
whatever quarter they may come. IL vii seek 20
be land u will ondoavov 10 deserve the utic) the
organ Of the Democrssie party Of ths Unissd
| States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, N . fundamental
truth Of that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the Ratification of the Con
stitution . compact by which, alss, they created
| the Federal Government. and delegated 10 i,
~ their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il. with explicit reservation of all
others 10 the States, 10 their separate govern
| ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
reserved authority of the States Ivy the as,<st
| their own creation
| The SENTINEL will uphold aud defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights Of the States--under
the Constitution--and thus by s~dulouslv guarding
the latter, il will the more eGectusy strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise Of the powers OF the
Fet-ral Government the SEsTrNxL will take n
the rincipes OF its action, that Congress shall cx-
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution according 70 strict and fair in
terpre, ton Of its language and spirit; and that
shall seek to attain iadiyediy an object through
the Use Of constitutional posgev, for the direct
aftainme of which il has no deisgati0a of pososy
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for ,urpose, except such a. is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution.
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
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 il 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencics,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaty,
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 viii
pursue.
| The national policy of the world in this age 10
essentially aggressive In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some of the nations Of the Old World,
| and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, vii
prompt to avoid il in the affairs Of other coun
tries, n,less by their foreign colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, security endan
| gered, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which infrnges upon our rights
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 defensivs, il must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive Our administration should
| be-vigiant, 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 il. 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 neighbors but a colony, and
q worn-out, anarchical despotism. We 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 life, and 10
| human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
- r. IL E.wtu- H.
government. continent, 10 q great extent, un-
| explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at 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
| us, look to the rising power, through the
| agency of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty, civilization, and religion are des-
tined TO triumph oyer the barbarism and supersti-
lon 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 IL called'
| A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
| the world, well az the peaceful arbiter Of It's
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate q bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
| the country demands; but II will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhcrs else. Its foreign
| and unimpeachablc 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. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of Others and firm and immoveabe in
insisting its own. II must, in fine, be true to
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 endesvor
TO be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
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 press Of its own party-the personal
enemy OF none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
| and in its honest labors TO attain such end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.