Washington sentinel., 1855-03-07
PROSPE &c TU s.

PROSP ECTUS.
| OF THE
WASHINGTON SENTINEL
T PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
| j ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
| MEL.
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles it viii 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 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.
II 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
sentiments which are common to the genuine
ton Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. It will seek 70
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the ttc) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SRNTMEL will maintain, as Fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con.
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others TO the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaton 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 more efectualy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the C, nsttution according to strict and fair in
,erprel iion of its language and spirit and that il
shall seek to attain indirectly an objectthrough
the exei Use of Constitutional o,csr for the dtrect
attainme of which it has no delegation Of poicsr
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. Il will labor to
inculcate this dinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy -, AT this Government will bes'
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 eoneerns-while il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
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 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 frmness with liberahy
and make its highest ends consist with the strletes
principles Of Justice. The real interests Of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be it's 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 rsstl.ssness OF others, a com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us TO avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, unless by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gered, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, If need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive; I;
but 10 be properly defensive, II must sometimes be
appayentiv ar Qressipe Our administration should
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 il. We cannot
avoid il If we would We have larger interests, ana
a greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of a mt, with no neighbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchical despotism We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
N o.. al txroAnr ara mr.
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and ia
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 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is 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, Asa,
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
inps of liberty civilization, and religion, are des
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and superstl-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
A people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
ACT upon the high mission 10 which il is called? !?
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confedcracy the hsrbinger Of peace TO
| the world as well as the peaceful arbter OF It's
| destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate Il under
the flag ofthe couniry--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and TO be great
| in the ewes of the world, IL must ask for nothing
bu, what is right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. Il must be liberal and magnanimous 10
| the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, IN hne, be true 10
| s own interests rights and honor--it 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
| 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 de.
| nounce.
To our future brethren of the press we extend
tho hand Of friendly greeting The Sentlnel Is the