Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-01
PROSPECTUS P [. 8
w AsIIINGToN Sentinel.

! 4 ton, in September, political newspaper un-
der the name OF the WASHINGTON SENT)
/ MEL
! IN doing 10 ii il proper / should make known
| The principles Il viii maintain and the policy L
/ viii advocate.
Il viii supper, cordially and earnestly The prin
rpes Of the Democratic pnyfy of The URite .SfaftH
Il does moi propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
meDt of the Cove rnment, except IN 80 far as an IN
dependent maintenance Of the doctrines of tha,
party may represent lis opinions and express It's
/ views.
/ II will not be enbitious TO commend itS-.ltta ID,
| people by blind fattery OF their rulers. Il viii.
seek pubic :ppori by the bold avowai of the
! sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
democracy Of the Union and by the condemna
non OF all snch may conflict with them. from,
| whatever quarter they NAV II will seek 10
lac (aDd II will end-avor 70 deserve he tIile The
| organ of The D-niocratr party ~ me Nolle''
States at, fa
The SrNrrsE will maintain, a. tundsn-ntaI
truth of tina! parry, that the States formed the
j Union hetwren them bv the raiifcaton Of the Con
-ttnion ~ romrari ~ which. also they creai.d
1 the Federal Government snd ielegrs"d ~ 4,
- 'hsir comnlon agent the powers expressly
specified IN II, with explicli reservation OF all
others 10 the States, or 10 ibeir separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, usurpation OF the
| reserved authority of the States hy the serni ~
! their own creation.
The SENTiNEl. will uphold aud defend The Union
upon the basis OF the rights of the Sta,es--uad-r
4 the Constituton--and thus by >edulousv guarding
i the latter il will the etectnally strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise OF the pnwers of the
| Fec eral Government, the SESTINRi. will take a
| the rinciples of its action. that Congress shall
/ ercs power which has not been delegated hy
tGe q, Institution. according To strict and fair IN
4 erprei tion OF s language and spirit; and that il
shai nt seek 10 attain SRciftctiy an object through
flf
1 attainme OF which il has no deisgat1on of poarsr
1 In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted and all granted powers must be
used for no ,nrpose, except such a. = clearly in
| tended by tn Constitution
In respect to the Internal administration Of the
Government The SENTINEL will sustaln the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. II will labor 10
| inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
| ternal policy;--that this Government will besI
| 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 10 the individual States the manage
| ment OF all their domesttr eonce,Rs-while il
| 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 exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
| country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper hrInness with liberaiiy,
and make its highest ends consist with the strictesi
| principles of Justice Phe real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
/ will be it's guide in the course the SEsTlSRL vii
pursue.
The national policy Of the world in this age IL
\ essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
| weakness of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious restlrssness of others, com
| mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
| self
| Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns viii
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries, lAleSs by their foreign colonial policy
| 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 unlriendly uyel. such policy must
be resisted by remonslrance, and u need be ~
| war
| our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly 6sfsHSIre. 4 must sometimes be
aypayeH,iV aggpeSsips. Our administration should
| be vigilani waichful, 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 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
i Of continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
i y worn-out anaTchica despotsm. We are the
/ ony people whose own land without colonial de-
| tendencies. il 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 vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
/ than those of any other people living under one
4 government. A continent, TO great extent, un.
| explored and eNhaustless IN it, yet hidden wealth
IL al feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are al 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 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 des-
| tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst-
ton 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 u ~ called
| A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
| make our confcderacy the harbinger of peace 10
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL viii, therefore, advocate boid
and earnest ToreigH policy such as the condition
the country demands; but IL will advocate u under
the hag of the country-nowher0 else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| and unmpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable vi home and abroad, and 10 be great
| in the eyes Of the world, Il must ask for nothing
but what is right and submit 10 nothing that IL
| wrong. II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights OF others, and firm and iinmoveable in
insisting on its own il must, 10 fine, be true to-
its own interests rights. and honor-it cannot then
be false to1hosa Of other nations.
Such, then, is The chart by which we shall be-
guided. Independent aud free, we shall endesvor
| 10 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 ell proper occasions de
| nounce.
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand Of friendly greeting The Sentinel - the
rival OF no press OF Iis own party--the personal
enemy Of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for it, success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il canre into power
and in lis honest labors 10 attain such end Il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author OF :. the
II A Old Houae nv the RIVER"