Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-29
P R ROSPECTUS s
Of THE
WASHINGTON SENTINEL .

! der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
| MEL
] In doing so, 1t is proper 1 should make known
| the principles il will maintain. and the policy il
| will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples ofthe Democratic party Of the United State'
| II does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
| ment OF the Government, except in so far an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines Of tha,
| party may represent It's opinions and express It's
views.
II will not be ambitious to commend itself 10 the
people by a blind hatery 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 condemDa-
| ton of all such may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the iltle) the
organ of the Democratic party OF the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed The
Union between them hy the ratification 81 the on
stitniion rs a compact Nv which aiso they crra-d
! lb. Federal Government and delegated ~ u,
ar their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation os all
others 10 the States or 10 their separate govern
menis The exercise OF any powers beyond thesr
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton oi the
reserved authority Of the States hy the agent o.
their creation,
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
the Constituton--and thus by sedulousy guarding
the latter it will the eteGtua|Iy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard to the exercise of the powers ofthe
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take a.
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the &, Institution, according 10 strict and fair IN
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that it
shat n. seek to attain Rdirsctiy object through
the Use of coSt,tttoBGt posccr, for the 1arect
attanme of which il has no deegataon of poacer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such 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 10
incucate 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 10 exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving TO the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic e0ncerns-whlle 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 ofthe common rights, and
honor of the States composing IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself TO the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
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, wil
pursue
The national policy OF the world IN this age is
essentially aggressive. In The growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations ofthe Old World,
and the ambitious restlrssness OF others, com
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repeI interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, wll
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, 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
dangerous and unfricndly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, If need be, Ay
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 lie property detcRSiUe, 4 must sometimes be
apparentfy aggresSiUe 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 II. We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and It's destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of a continent with no neighbors but colony, and
o 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 life and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity Tor
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people living under one
government A continent, TO a great extent, I'M
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il al our 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 barbarsm 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 II Is called
\ A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, whsch, if properly directed, mus'
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace &c
| the world as well the peaceful arber OF Its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition o
| the country demands; but IL will advocate II undeI
1 the flag fthe country--nowhero else. It's forelgr
policy must be consistent with the spotless honoi
| and unimpeachable good faith of the country. Tc
he respectable al home and abroad, and 10 be grea
| in the eyes of the world il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that !;
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous to
| the rights of others, and firm and immoveable u
insisting on its own. IL must, in fine, be true Il
its own interests rights, and honor-it cannot ther
be false to those of other nations.
| Such then is the chart by which we shall be
guided Independent and free we shall endcavo
| to be honest and truthful The true friends o
| democratic principles we shall cordially suppor
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 exieno
the hand Of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is The
rival of no press OF is own party-thc persona
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has ou
est wishes for its success in the establishment o
i the great principles upon which il came into power
and i'm its honest abors TO attain such an end 4
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
H ATER YEARS, by the Author Of " th,