Washington sentinel., 1855-02-17
PROSPECTUS S
..wAsHINCToN SENTINEL. !,

| the principles it viii maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
! II will support cordially and earnestly the prln
ciples of the Democratic party Of the United States
il does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnment except in so far as an In
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF thai
party may represent its opinions and express lis
| views.
| II will not be ambitious to commend itsefto 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-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Will seek 70
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the ttle) 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-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to it,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States or 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 Constituton-and thus by sedulousy guarding
| the latter il will the more efectualiy strengthen
and perpetuate 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 tar IN
terpretaton Of its language and spirit; and that II
shall not seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exercise of Constitutional potcer, for the dtrsef
attainment of which it has no delegation Of potcer
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for 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. II will labor 10
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
terna policy:-that this Government will bes'
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 composingit.
| The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself 10 the exgencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
| country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness 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 vii
| 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 restl.ssness Of others, com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
/ self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs Of other coun
tries uniess by their foreign or colonial pohcy 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 a
| dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
i be resisted by remonstrancc, and, II need be, by
/ war.
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but 10 be properly defensfpe, II must sometimes be
\ opparenfl aggressive. Our administration should
| be vigilant, watchfu and energetic. The world
1 is full of important movements, commercial and
I politb.a al deeply concerning American trade and
! American power. II is time we had an american
| foreign policy. We must have IL. We cannot
avoid il il we would We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
4 every other people. We occupy the best portion
| OF a continent, with neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchical desPotism. We are the
| olnv people whose own land, without colonial de-
/ tendencies is washed by the two great oceans oi
| the world. Our agricultural productions are more
/ varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and To
human progress-our mineral and manuiacturng
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
4 internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people living under one
| government. A continent, TO great extent, un.
explored and cxhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is nj 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 to 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 oes
/ tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superstl'
1 ton Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II Is called
/ A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
4 make our confederacy the harbinger of peace tc
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition o.
the country demands but IT will advocate II undei
the flag ofthe country-nowhere eise its ioreigr
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. Tc
be respectable at home and. abroad, and to be grea
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what il right, and submit TO nothing that u
| wrong IA must be liberal and magnanimous tc
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true tc
its own interests rights. and honor-it cannot ther
be false TO those Of other nations
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall Dc
euided. Independent and free, we shall endeavol
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends o
democratic principles we shall cordially suppor
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 extent
tho hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival of no press OF its own party-the persona
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has oul
hest wishes for its success in the establishment o
the great principles upon which came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such an end
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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