Washington sentinel., 1855-03-20
PROSP ECTUS
..MAsHINGTnN sENTIN

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 il
will advocate.
1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes of the Democratic party Of the United States
il 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.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery Of their rulers. It 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 oil such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
be (and II will endeavor to deserve the tite) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States. T
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a Fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con.
stituion compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegatOF to i,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified In II, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or to their separate govern
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 efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise Of the powers Of the
Fec sral 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
terpret tion of its language and spirit and that
shall nc seek to attain indirectly object through
the exei Use Of constitutional poacey for the direct
attainme of which it has no delegation Of poscor
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, 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. II will labor 10
inculcate this c, dinal doctrine Of Democratic IN
ternal polcy:--t at this Government Will best
promote the freed IN 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 domssfIe concerns-while II con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion OF the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing ii.
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-
cided; but should temper frmness with llberallty
and make it's highest ends consist with the stretest
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 SIS OF some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlcssness 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 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 a
dangerous and unfricndy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancc, and, II need be, ny
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but to be properly defensipe, IL must sometimes be
apporently oggressipe. 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 il. 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 a continent, 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
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, to a great extent, un-
.I ,K.la hon vpf
is our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which 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 TO ms 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 supersti-
tion 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 u Is called !
mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
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 country--nowberc else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith Of the country. To
be respectable al homie and abroad and TO be great
in the eyes Of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what IL right, and submit 10 nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights OF others, and firm and lmmoycable in
insisting on ts own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights and honor-ii 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
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend Its enemies IN the field or in. n.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-thc personal
enemy OF none of the other
| The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which i came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an END "
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
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