Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-23
PROSPECTUS
or THE
"WAsHINGTON SENTINEL"

der the name OF the WASHINGTON SEMI
MEL.
In doing So il is proper l should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy Il
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes Of the Democratic purity Of The United States
il does not propose TO be the organ O any Depar.
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 lis
views.
Il will not be ambitious TO commend itselfi 10 the
people by blind fatiery Of their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may como. II will seek 10
organ OF the Democratic party Of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth 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 TO Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified In it, with explicit reservation OF al!
others TO the States, to their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpetion 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 Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Federal Government the SErTINxL will take as
the principles Of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercise NO power which has not been delegated by
depreciation Of its language and spirit and that il
shall not seek to attain Msdsyscty objectthroug
the exercise of constitutional poacey for the direct
attainment Of which it has delegation Of posrer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose except such az is 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 TO
incucate 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 10 exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic cosscsrs-whie 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 it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exgencies
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 ts highest ends consist with the striotesi
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 restessness OF others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c tepel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, uess by their foreign 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 unfricndly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc and, il need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive ;
but to be properly defensiVs il must sometimes be
apparently aggressivs. Our administration should
be vigilant watchfnl, and energetic. Inc 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 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 continent with NO neghbors but colony and
q 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 to
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, 10 great extent, UNI
explored and exhaustless 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
us, look 10 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, des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarsm and supersi-
lion of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which il il called2
A mission 30 full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbier OF ita
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnesf foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but win advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachabe good faith Of the 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 10 nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. IL must, in line, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor--i cannot then
be false to those OF other nations.
j. Such, then, il the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall cndeavor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
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
rival Of no press OF its own party--the persona.
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
REST wishes for its success in the establishments
The great principles upon which il came into power;
md in ts honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SxNTTrxL lis friend and coadjutor.
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