Washington sentinel., 1855-03-13
PROSPECTUS s
.WAsHuNGTnN SENTINEL. J,

| or THE
| ssWASHINGTON SENTINEL.0
| TT PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
| il ton, in September, political newspaper, un
MEL
| In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of The United States
il does not propose 10 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. aa8
will not be ambitious 70 commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers II wiz
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. II will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) 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-
sttution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government and delegated 10 it,
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
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, il will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers ofthe
Feceral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
/ xe~snt AvA Ensp in
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; and that i
shall seek TO attain sndiretly an obJectthrough
the exel Use Of constitutional p0sOey, for the dsrect
attanme of which it has no delegation Of poscer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such as is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect TO the internal administration Of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the L mocratic party. II will labor to
incucate this c, dnal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy at this Government Will besi
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 cconcerns-while it 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 "a progressive
foreign policy as 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 frmness with liberality
and make its highest ends consist with the srletes
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
.sunsry, upon cach oooesien demanding uucnton
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 restlessness OF others, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension mas developed
SELF
Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, wil
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries m,less by their foreign 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 2
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive;
but to be properly defensive, must sometimes be
apparently aggresive Our administration should
be vigiant, watchful, and energetic. Ihe 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 it, We cannot
avoid il il 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 no neighbors but colony, and
worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We are the
olny 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 life and 10
| human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
4 L. l..x.. xl~r
| government. continent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess 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 TO us as the rising power, through the
| agency of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs Of liberty, civilization, and religion, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarsm 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 il is called!
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confedsracy the harbinger OF peace 70
| the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
| the country demands but il will advocate IT under
| the flag ofthe country--nowhere else Its foreign
4 policy must De consistent Win sPoucss honoi
| and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at 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 Is
| wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
/ the rights of others, and firm and immcveabe in
| insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights and honorlt 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
| to be honest 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
the 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
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power;
| and in its honest labors TO attain such an end "
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
~ 4 nd