Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-22
PROSPECTUS s.
.wAsHINGTbN SENTINEL

| l ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON. SENTI
! MEL.
| In doing SO, il is proper should make known
tho principles it will maintain, and the policy il
! will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of the 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.
1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fauery of their rulers. 1t will
seek public support BY the bold avowal of the
Democracy Of the Union, and by the. condemna-
| tion 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 SxSrnxL will maintain, as a Fundamental
truth that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification Of the Con-
stitution a. compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated to it,
~ their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation Of all
others 70 the States, 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 Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, will the effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the @, institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; and that il
shall seek to attain mdirectly an ob]ectt
al II
attainme Of which it has no delegation Of po,0er.
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 mocratic party. Il will labor to
inculcate this dinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-l 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 il
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 it,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy 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 lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strstes
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 aggressive In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some Of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness Of others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, nnless 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
colonial policy which infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce a
dangerous and unfricndy rival, such policy mus,
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed be defensive /;
but to be properly defensipe, II must sometimes be
apparently aggrsssips Our administration should
be vglant, 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 II. 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn out anarchical despotism. We 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 civilized life. and 10
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
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 continent, to great extent, un-
nd hntr feas in IA re- wealth
IL at 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 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 TO triumph over the barbarsm and supcrstl-
ton of the millions ef the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which ii is called? |?
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL. will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but ii will advocate IL under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent With the spotiess honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be Respectable Al nome anu hDIonu, uuu W kic"t
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 immcveable in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true TO
it's own interests, rights and honorit 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 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
REST wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
| and in II. honest labors TO attain such end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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