Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27
PROSPECTUS u s
.wAsHINGToN SENTINEL y

ton, in September. potieail, nswspapsr gn
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy i,
i will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes Of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment of the Government, except in SO far as an In
j dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II VIII
| 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 as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
| be (and it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
| The SENTINEL will maintain, Fundamental
truth othat great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con.
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
| 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 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 Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the efectually strengthen
and pcrpetuate 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 ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according to strict and fair 1n
depreciation Of its language and spirit and that II
shall not seek TO attain indirectly objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional potcer for the direct
attainment of which it has no delegation of poicer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose except such as IL 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. II will labor to
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
iernal policy that this Government viii 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 doDestie concerns-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 will suit itself TO the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberaity
and make its highest ends consist with the strietes
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 ofthe nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious rsstlessness OF others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid it in the affairs of other coun
ires 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive /;
but 10 be properly defs,sipe, il must sometimes be
npparentlv aggressire. Our administration should
be vigtant, 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
greater stake in the world and It's destiny than
every other people. I'VE occupy the best portion
of continent with no neighbors but colony, and
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 civilized life, 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 hvlng under one
| government. A continent, TO a great extent, un'
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s 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
| us, look 10 us as the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
| nes Of liberty civilization and religion are des-
/ tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersu
tion Of the millions Of the world And shall sucn
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II is caiied'
/ A mission so full Of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger oil peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful aroter Oh us
| destiny.
1 The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
oud earnest foys,pn poiicy such the condition OF
the country demands; but Il will advocate u under
/ the flag ofthe country--nowhere else Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotiess hon0r
md nnimpeachable good faith Of The country. To
he respectable at home and abroad and TO be great
i in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what il right and submit TO nothing that Is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights of others, and firm and immeveaDle IN
/ Insisting ON its own IL 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
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
| and defend It's 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 10 the
rival OF no press OF its own party-the persona
enemy Of none Of the other.
The ,resent Democratic Administration has our
les, wishes for its success in the establishment o.
the great principles upon which j. came into power
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an END y
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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