Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-15
PROSP ECTU S
wv AsHINCTON SENTINEL. J.

wv ASH NGION SENIINEL.'
PROPOSE to publish in the city of Washing
j ton, in September, a political newspaper un.
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing So il is proper | should make known
the principles II will 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 itsefto 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
Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il viii seek to
be (and il will cndeavor to deserve the ttle) 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
stitutlon as compact by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
as their common agent. the powers expressly
specified in il, 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 usurpaton Of the
reserved~authorlty of the STATES ny the agent oi
their own creation.
The SENTINEL viii uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States--under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter ii will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
FeCeral Government the SENTINEL will take a.
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the @ institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit and that il
shall seek to attain indirectly objectthrongh
the Use of constitutional poroey for the direct
attainme I of which il has no delegation of powey.
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 10 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:-lhat 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 domestic conccrns--while il 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 will suit itself to the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
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 In the n
weakness of some Of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us to avoid it in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign 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 infrnges 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 dfensipe, II 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 il wewould 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 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 10
human progrcss--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 exhsustless 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 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 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
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 il 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 as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition oi
the country demands, Dut III VIII advocate III unuer
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless 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. Il must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which 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 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
best wishes for its success in the establishment o
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjuor.
+ ATER YEARS, by the Author Of !. the
liz Old House by the RIVER