Washington sentinel., 1855-02-04
PROSPECTUS s
.wAsHINCToN SENTINEL, !,

IL ton, In september, pOHtlcal newspaper, un
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL.
/ In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
L will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of the Democratic party Of tho United States
II does not propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment ofthe 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
spemocracyo Of the Union, and by the condemns
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il win seek to
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the title) the
organ of the Democratic party Of the United
States.
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 to i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, 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 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 efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the principles of its action, that Congress shall
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
shall seek TO attain sndirscly object through
the exercise of constitutional potcer, for the dred
attainment of which it has no delegation of poscer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
tended by the Constitution.
In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy Of the Democratic party. 1t will labor TO
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 to the individual States the manage
ment OF all their donsestic conce,us-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 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-
cded; but should temper frmncss with liberaity
and make its highest ends consist with the strietes
principles of justice. The real interests Of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SKrTrrEI. 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 restlcssness Of others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, nness 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 unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, if need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly defcnsive, 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 il ii we would We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent, with no nelghbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are 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 ME, ana 10
human progress-ouT mineral and manuiacturing
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 contiuent, TO great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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
ua 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 dcs-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism. and supcrstl-
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 calledf
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 as the peaceful arbiter of it,
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and sarnea Joragn policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith ofthe 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 IL
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights Of others, and firm and rmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights. and honorit cannot then
be false 10 those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 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.
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 success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which II came into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an emo "
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
TKnMs: Fort the Daily paper $40 year, IN ad-