Washington sentinel., 1855-02-11
PROSPECTUS
or THE
"yyAsHINGTON SENTINEL, !,

i
i ton, in September, political Newspaper. un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON ,SENTI
MEL
In doing 20, il is proper should make known
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy il
/ will advocate.
It viii support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of tks UHsfsa Stafss
| II does not propose to bs the organ of any Depart
ment the Government, except in 20 far ~ an IN
| dependent maintenance Of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express its
| views. a b
| II will not be ambitious 10 coanmsad ksslf,c The
people by blind Asttery 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 as may conflict with thcm from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The Sxrrrtx1 will maintain, as Z Fundamental
truth that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con.
sttution a compact BY which, also, they crsat:d
tho Federal Government, and delegated 70 I,
% their common agent, the powers expressly
specified In It. with explicit reservation Of AL
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, 10, therefore, an usurpeton Of the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent o.
their own creation
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights Of tho Statcs--under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more edectualy strengthen
and pcrpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers ofthe
Federal Government, the SKNTINxL will take a.
the principles Of ts action, that Congress shall ex-
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to strict and fair in.
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that
shall not seek to attain indiysy object through
the exercise Of eosttMtioxa! poscs, for the diysa
attainment of which il has no delegation c posOsr
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such a. 10 clearly inr
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to tho 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 beH
promote the freedom and prosperity Of the people
Of the States by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment Of all their dcnssstte concsrns--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 q progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exgencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should tempSr 6rmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the stristes
principles Of justice. The real interests OF the
u0uursy, sr>a each occasion demanding attention
will be IL guide in the course the SsxEtxsL vii
pursue
The national policy Of the world in this age 10
essentially aggressive. In tho growing sensc oi
weakness Of some OF tho nations Of tho Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, q com
hna de-
self
Our settled determination &c repel interferencs
from abroad with our dome,tic concerns, viii
prompt us to avoid it. in the affairs Of other coun
iries unlsss 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 infringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway Of our commerce Q
dangerous and unfnendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstranee, and, il need be, BY
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defsnnvs, il must sometimes be
apparently aggressivs. 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 il. We cannot
avoid il ii we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no neighbors but q colony and
. worn-out anarchical despotism. We are the
oIny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans oil
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized lie, ana 70
human proCress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vsstour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, TO great extent, Nm
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
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 to us as tha rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
ings of liberty, civilization, and religion, arc des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and superstl
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which II Is called
A mission so full Of hope, though 90 laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace to
the world, a. well ~ tho peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The sxrrrrnL will, therefore, advocate So1
and earnest Joresgn poiscy such as the conditon OF
the country demands; but il will advocate under
the flag of the country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. 10
be respectable 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 s
wrong II must be liberal and msgnanimous to
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
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 trus friends of
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies IN tho 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. Tho Sentinel 10 the
rival of no press OF its own party--thc personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
e., wishes for lis success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcamc into power;
and in i,s honest abors to attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor
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