Washington sentinel., 1855-02-10
PROSP &c I us
OF THE
"W ASHINCTON SENTINEL

/ TT PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
/ u ton, in September, political newspipc un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENT
MEL.
In doing So il is proper ! should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
L will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
| II does not propose to be the organ OF any Depari
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 It's
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery 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-
tion of all such may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 70
be and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
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-
stituton as compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, 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, an usurpation 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 Consttution-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 ofthe
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO strict and fair in
terpretaton of its language and spirit; and that II
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional p0icey for the d1Tect
attainment Of which it has delegation Of poacer.
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 I'M
tended by the 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 c0ncerns-whe II 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
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with hberalIty
and make its highest ends consist with the strletest
principles Of justice. The real interests OF The
country tpon each occssion demanding attention
will be lis 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 restessness Of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us TO 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 nfringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway Of our commerce
dangerous and unfricndly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, II need be, NY
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defsnsivs, Il must sometimes be
a1,pareufiv a9gressire. Our administration should
be vipilant, 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 ii 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 contine Mt with no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are the
olnv neonle whose own land, withou, colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans oi
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential to civilized me- hno 10
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity iof
internal and foreign commerce more EXTENDED
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless in its yet hidden wealth
is al our feet European trade seeks the great Eas,
through avenues which are at our doors, or mus
be made through our own limits. Europe, ASA,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
us look TO us az 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 oes-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
lion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, ana
act upon the high mission TO which Is caiied'
A mission so fun Of hope, though so laden win
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter OF IT'S
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foregn policy, such as the condinon Oh
the country demands but il will advocate y under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. its foreign
and unimpe achsbe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be great
In tbe ewes of the world, IL must ask for nothing
but what Is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveaole IN
insisting on 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 endeavor
70 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
j rival of no press OF it's own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration mas our
les, wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame INTO power
and in its honest labors 70 attain such an emo y
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadIutor.
TrpMs, For the Daily paper, $40 year. IN ad-
vance. For the Tri-weekly, 50 year to single