Washington sentinel., 1855-03-11
PROSPECTUS


1V ~ ~ - - ~ - ~ ~
.wAsHrNcToN e Nns nssENrrNEI.Y
II PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
| l ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples ofthe Democratic party of Le United States
il does not propose to be the organ of any Depart
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 its
views.
Il will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. II 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 them, from
whatever quarter they may come will seek TO
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamenta
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con.
sttution 40 compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, 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, usurpaton 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 eectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Feceral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincipes Of its action, that Congress shall ex
hoa 1soon tad
the G. Institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, iion fits language and spirit and that i
shall n. seek to attain imdirectly obectthrough
the exel Use of constitutional poscer for the direct
attainme Of which il has no delegation Of poaOer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, except such as is clearly In
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration Of the
Government The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the mocratc party. II will labor TO
inculcate this c, dinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy at this Government will best
promote the freed m 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 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 II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such 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 temper frmness with iberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strletest
| principles of justice. The real interests OF The
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
pursue.
The national policy OF the world in this age is
essentially aesressive. In the growing sense 81
weakness of some of the nations OF the Old World
| and the ambitious rsstlcssness OF others, com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
/ SELF
| Our settled determination &c 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 infringes upon our rights,
| and places in the pathway Of our commerce q
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be- Wy
war.
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly defeasipe, II must sometimes be
| apparently Aggressive. 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 it 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
| o worn-out, anarchcal 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 to clvilized hie, and 70
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity Tor
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
/ than those of any other people living under one
/ government continent, to great extent, nm
explored and exhaustess In IFS yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors or must
| be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
4 us look TO us the rising power, through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening ano
extending though peaceful influences, the bless
ings Of liberty civilization, and religion, are des
i lined 10 trumph 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 - called
responsibility, which, if properly directed, mus
| make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace ic
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter Of it'
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate boif
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition
The aao ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. IL
be respectable at home and abroad and TO be grea
in the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that i
wrong. 1t must be liberal and magnanimous {
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveabIe =
ns;stnp on its own. Il must, in fine, be true u
It's own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot ther
be false to those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall b
guidsi. Independent and free, we shall endeavo
20 he honest and truthful. The true friends 0
democratic principles we shall cordially supper
and defend. It's enemies in the field or in ambusl
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions De
nouRce.
To our future brethren of the press we exten'
,ha hand nf friendly greeting. The Sentinel is th'
rival Of no press OF its own party--the persona
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has ou
hest wishes for ts success IN the es.ao.snen
| ~. -; os .,ron which il came into power