Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-29
PROSPECTUS S
WASHINGTON SENTINEL. -

n
| Il ton, in September, political newspaper, un
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI
| MEL.
In doing so, II is proper should make knowr
| The principles II viii maintain, and the policy il
/ will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
clpes ofthe Democratic party Of The Utited Stats,
II does not propose 10 be the organ Of any Depart
ment OF the Government, except in so far as an in
dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF thai
| party may represent lis opinions aud express its
views.
| II will not be ambitious TO commend tselft TO the
| people by blind hattery of their rulers. II viii
| seek public, support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
| democracy OF the Union, and by the condemna-
| lon OF all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor TO deserve the title) the
| organ OF the Democratic party of the United
1 States.
| The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth OF that S6arty, that the States formed the
Union between Eem by the ratification of the Con
sutuiion compact; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated II,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of all
others to the States, to their separate govern
| ments. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
| their own creation.
L
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
the Constitution-and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter, il will the efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
teral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rlncipes OF its action, that Congress shall
ercls no power which has not been delegated by
the O. institution, according to strict and fair in
terprei ton of its language and spirit; and that il
shall nc seek to attain i,sdirectly an object through
the exe Use of constitutional pooer, for the direct
attainme of which ID has no delegation of poaoer.
la 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. Ii will labor to
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal polcy:-,hat 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 ce0ncernS-while il 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 IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cded; but should temper frmness with hberaty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictes
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 restlessness of Others com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c 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 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 unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, Ly
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defenSive, il must sometimes be
apparently aggresssUe. 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. IL 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 neighbors but a 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 10 civilized life, and 10
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-
explored and exhausuess nits yet hidden wealth
is al feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe Asia,
Africa and the isles of the sea, lying all around
Us, look 10 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 superst
tion of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called /?
A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make 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 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 spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its interests, rights, and honor-it 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 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 personal
enemy Of none OF the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
test wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
| and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.