Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-20
PROSPECTUS
oY TIE
"WAsHINGTON sENTINEL.o

der the name OF the WASHINGTON SEMI
MEL
In doing SO, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy II
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
nent of the Government, except in so far as an In
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines Of that
party may represent its opinions and express IT'S
views
1t viii 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-
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and it will endeavor 10 deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as q 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 to i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in 1t, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or 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 SKNTINxI. will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights Of the States-under
the Consttution-andt thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the moro efIectuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Federal Government, the SxNTNxL will take as
the principles Of its action, that Congress sha ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated BY
the Constitution, according TO strict and fair in
depreciation Of its language and spirit; and that il
the exercise of Constitutional poaey for the dtrec
attainment of which il has no dslsgatiom Of poacsr.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as il 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 10
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 donaeaic concsyns-while 1t 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 1t.
The SENTINEL will advocate such q progressive
foreign policy 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 frmness with iberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strotest
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 nge 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 &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by rsmonstrance, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive !;
but to be properly dfensive, it 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 it. We cannot
avoid it il would We have larger interests, and
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
WORKOUT, anarchcal despotism. We the
ony 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 To
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vast-ourfa facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, 10 great extent I'M
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is feet. European trade seeks the great East
oh n var nae xxb al n my TnttSf
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look 10 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 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 IT is cailcdf
A mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbier Of lis
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowherc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable nj home and abroad, and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
Dut Whit TlRnt, ana BuDmil 10 uOtnlnR tnot IN
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests rights, and honor--it cannot then
be false 10 those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall he
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially suppors
and defend It's 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
nval OF no press OF It's own party--thc personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
'est wishes for its success in the establishment OF
he great principles upon which il came into power;
md in its honest labors TO attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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