Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-21
PROSPECTUS
or THE
"WASHINGT1lN SENTINEL

In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples OF the Democratic party Of the Uned States
II does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Cove rnment, except in SO far as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express us
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il 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 will seek 10
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
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-
stitution compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation Of all
others TO the States or to their separate govern
ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpation 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
TIC ldttCI, IL Will TIC IuOEc CucCluduy blICuStucL
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers ofthe
Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles ofits action, that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution according to strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that it
shall not seek to attain indirectly an object through
the exercise Of Constitutional Yosoer, for the direct
attainment of which il has no delegation of Y0scer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as 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. 1t will labor 10
inculcate 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 TO exercise
power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestie eoncerms-whle 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 a progressive
foreign policy 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 firmness with lberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strloesi
principles of Justice. The real interests of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
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, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy mus,
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 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 if we would. We have larger interests, and
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
a worn-out, anarchical despotsm. 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 lie, 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 continent, 10 great extent, UNI
explored and exhausuess IN its yet hidden wealth
is al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, must
he mn de fhrouyh o,frp xUu 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 supcrst-
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 II is calledf
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
sThe SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate n bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotlcss 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 to nothing that is
wrong. III must De nDeral ana magnanlmOus 10
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--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 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 do,
nouncc.
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
est wishes for its success in the establishment OF
he great principles upon which itcame into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end /,
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.
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