Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-24
PROSPECTUS s
"wAsHIN0TaDNs ss sENTINEI..n .

| M PROPOSE 10 publish in the city Of Washing
~ ton, in September, q political newspaper, un
der der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENT
InIdoing so, il is proper should make known
the principles u viii maintain, and the policy i
viii advocate. r ".
Il win support cordially and earnesty the prin
ciplcs oflhc Democratic party Of the United States
il does mon propose 10 be The organ Of any Depart
ment Of the Government except in so far az an in
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
views. 1sts @@ &
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itselfio the
peoHc BY blind hattery OF their rulers. u will
seek public support by the bold avowal Of the
sentiincnts which are common 10 the genuine
sDembcreoy of the Uniou, and BY the condemna-
tion Of all such as may conaict wish thes", fs--.
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the iitle) the
organ Of the Democratic party OF the United
States.1 a,91 gMs @ q gEs
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 10 i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation OF all
others the States, or 10 their separate govern
rnents. 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--undcr
the Consttution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter. it will the more efecfualy strengthen
and pcrpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise ofthe 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 10 a strict and isr m.
terpretation Of its language and spirit; and that il
shall NOT seek to attain indirecty an objectthrough
the exercise of constitutional potccy, for the 1ire
attainment OF which it has no delegation cf pousr
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 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
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 10 the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the cxigencies
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberay
and make its highest ends consist with the srlstes
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be It's 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 restlcssncss OF others, a com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self.
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid II in the affairs OF other coun
tries n7iess by their foreign or colonial policy our
pence 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.
aud places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by rcmonstrance, and, II need be, Wy
war.
our foreign pocy should. indeed, be defensive !;
but 10 be properly drtensipe. Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu, 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 continent, with 40 neighbors but colony, and
worn-ont, anarchcal despotism. We are the
ony people whose own land, without colonial dc.
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized hfe, and to
human prcgress-our mineral and manuiacturins
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A contiuent, TO q great extent, un
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il AT our feet European trade seeks the great Easl
through avenues which are nj our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look 20 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 des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
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 caliedf
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
which, IL properly directed, must
EEmake our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 70
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter Of Its
destiny.
The sxsrrsrL win, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest ore,gn policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il viii advocate II under
the fag ofthc couniry--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
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 10 nothing that IS
wrong II must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immcveabe in
insisting on its own. il must. in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor-t cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. independent and free, we shall cndeavor
10 be homes, 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
tho hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival OF no press OF its own party-the personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power
and in its honest nbors 10 attain such an end u
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjuior.
Tvv,xo. Tor tho noilv napcr $40 wear,