Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-10
P PROSPECTUS
..MASHINGTON SENTINEl. p

Y fHk
..WAsHINGTON SENTINEL" ta..
i TT PROPOSE TO publish in the city OF Washing
| IL ton, in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
4 MEL
/ In doing so, il is proper should make known
| the principles II win maintain. and the policy il
| will advocate. t p+ At.s 94
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples Of the Dsnaoeratie party Of the United States
il does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
| ment of tho Government, except in SO far as an in
1 dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
| party may represent its opinions and express its
views. 9l t@h tM'A
/ II will NOT be ambitious to commend itselftoth the
people by blind 6sttery Of their rulers. 1t will
| seek public airport by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
4 tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II Will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party of tho United
i States. 4l l3 r {.
i The SEruNxL will maintain, fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stituton compact; by which, also they created
i the Federal Government, and delegated In II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States, or to their separate govern
monts. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated 10, therefore, usurpation of the
i
! their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the Sta,es-und-r
/ the Constituton-and thusby seduousy guarding
| the latter il will the more efectually strengthen
and pcrpetuate the former.
i With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
FeGsral Government, the SKrrINEL will take a.
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall
/ ercis no power which has not been delegated by
/ the c. institution, according TO strict and fair in
4 nfi no n and m
shall seek to attain sndirsetty an obJectthrough
the Use of constitutional posOer, for the 1irscf
attainmo 4 of which il has no dslsgHtiOn Of Poacey.
ln other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
| used for no ,urpose except such AZ il clearly in
| tended by III Constitution. a
/ In respect TO the internal administration of the
| Government the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy Of the Democratic party II will labor TO
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy that this Government will besI
| 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
mcnt Of all their domssftc 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 II. .
The SENTINEL will advocate such a progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper 6rmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
principles of justice. The real interests Of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
4 will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
| 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,
4 md nuahifious asfI nPs of others. n
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
! self ,tr4
| Our settled determination tc repe interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries Nisss by their foreign or colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan
| gercd, our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infnnges upon our rights,
and places in the pathway of our commerce
4 dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
| be resisted by renonstrance, and, if need be, IVY
| war. = 1t 1f4
| Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be propsrty dssnssvs, Il must sometimes be
| as,,ars,aly aSgrsssips Our administration should
| be vigilant, waichful, and energetic. The world
| 10 full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
American power. II Is time we had an American
4 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
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
| of contine nt with neighbors but colony, and
i . worn out anarchical despotism. We the
| olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
i tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
| the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and ts
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-our facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce extended
4 than those of any other people living under
4 government. A continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and cxhausuess In its yet hidden wealth
ia feet. European trade seeks the great Eas,
| 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
i agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
| extending, though pesceful influences the bless
i ings of liberty civilization, and religion, des-.
| tined 10 triumph the barbarian and supersti-
ton Of the millions efthr 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 so laden with
| responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well ss the pssceful arbiicr of its
i destiny. -4
! The SrsrrrI will, therefore, advocate a bold
and sarnssf Joyrgn policy, such as the condition Of
| the country demands. but ii will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country---nowhers else. Its foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotcss honor
| and unimpeachable good faith Of the country To
i
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
| but what is right, and submit to nothing that 10
| wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
| the rights of others, and firm and immovcable in
insisting on its II must, in fine, be true to
it's own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
i be false to those Of other nations.
Such, then, il 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 des
| nounce. -...,t
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
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
| the great principles upon which tcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end il
will find the SxrTrSKL its friend and coadlutor