Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-02
PROSPECTUS
.wAsHINcToN SENTINEL.

der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles IL will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate.
Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes OF the Democratic party Of the United States
it 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 itself TO the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold avowa 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 70
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tnlc) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL. 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, alse, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 u,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, to their separate govern
mcnts. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, Isl therefore, an nsurpaten OF the
reserved authority of the States ny the aseut oI
their own creation.
The SxNrINKL will uphold and defend the Union
the Consttution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take az
the rinciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G., nsttution according to strict and fair in
terpre, tion ofits language and spirit and that il
shall nj seek to attain indiyecfly object through
the Use Of constitutional poscey, for the 1irec
atfainme of which il has no delegGtl0n Of p01cey
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 i'm
tended by tn 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 thus 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 domestic concerns-whie II 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 progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigcncies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
w.
cided; but should temper irmness with lberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strietest
principles of Justice The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its 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
wsakness of some OF the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restcssness Of oshe-sr com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
SELF
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
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, or 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 a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defensive IL must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be viglant, 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 If we would. We hare 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 neghbors but colony, and
. worn-out, anarchical despotism. We are 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 Ia
human progress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities end capacityfor
internal and foreign commerce. more EXTENDED
than those of any other people living under one
government continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
- our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are Ht 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 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 barbarism and superstl-
ton of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny and
act upon ths high mission 10 which 1t is called'
mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbingcr Of peace TO
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter OF It's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands but il viii advocate IL under
the nag uftiio oountry--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotcss honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and to be great
in the eyes Of the world, it must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that Is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanmous TO
the rights OF others, and firm and immovcabe in
insisting on its own. II must, in fne be true TO
it's own interests, rights, and honor-t 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 cndcavor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on alp proper occasions des
nounce. .M
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-thc personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcamc into power
and in its honest labors to attain such an end IL
will find the SENTINEL. its friend and coadjutor.
r ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of s. the
IL Old House by the RIVER
Mr.. Rutherford's Children, second volume.
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous
Poems, by Charles Leland Potter, A. M.
afr tad from,