Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-03-03
From the Richmond Compiler.
MAsHINoToN's BIRTH DAY.


Our two national festivals, instituted,
the one to celebrate the morning Of our
independence, the other to commemorate
the birth and virtues Of its chief founder,
were not appointed BY the priests, or en-
acted by the ia,rgirers Of North America
Both have been ordained by the people
in the plenitude of their autocratical ca
pacity Being myself one Of the people
merely, and without aspira ion to any O.
Their distinction, it would be rePugnant
to popular selt-love if | did not appreciate
institutions which the popular sovereign
~ has ordained. But such selEcompIa
cency apart, these festivals appear well
adapted to cherish and propagate patri-
otto sentiments. Both are the primary
festivals of the only great republic that
exists in this age, or that probably will
exist for several ages to come. AS such,
they are correctly characterized by exhi
Litions OF general joy and gratitude. |
trust am not singular in the oPlnion
which / entertain that the cOmmemors
ton Of deeds beneficial, and events I'M
portant, to the republic, ought to be fixed
to stated days, the more certainly to per-
petuste them to pssterity. Is it to be
ascrlbed to prejudice, or only to the bias
of associations favorable to the dignity Of
man, that | love to look for the usages
of liberty to the illustrious free states OF
antiquity Who will deny that their
most distinguished public amusements
were rendered politically subservient to
noble purposes! Who does not know
that Sparta, as we'll as Athens, employed
public festivals to foster public spirits
The dominant genius OF America, at
present, fear, inCliues most Of her sons
too much to the acquisition or desire Of
private wealth, and too little to the as
cendancy Of public spirit. Nay. is there
not, at this time, circumstantial presump-
tive evidence abroad tending to demon.
strate that even majority Of our law
givers lore property more than liberty?
Is it then injudicious for US, the people,
to correct The former propensity and pro-
mote the latter, by celebrating annually
the birth day Of American freedom, AID
that of the hero who led our gallant ar
mics to achieve il :
The great festival instituted at Athens
in the earliest ages of Greece, in honor
Of Minerva, was, after the lapse OF ages,
revived BY Thescus to commemorate the
union Of all the people Of Attica by their
representatives. Poetical, and other con
tests, calculated either to exercise the
body or exalt the mind, were ordained
and established, One of the subjects an
nually proposed was the eulogium OF
Thrasybulus, an hero who had rescued
that republic from the yoke Of tyrants.
Why should not such policy Of those en-
liehtesed Athenians be adopted or I'M
tsted by the enlightened Americans p
Can it be iujudIcious, in this /" land Of
the free and home of the brave" to culti-
yate by similar institutions love Of coun.
try and deeds Of heroismf To celebrate
certain days as memorials, as monu-
ments for those citizens who have emf.
nently served our republic; and as les
sons, as incentives for those who shall
he .eafter be called upon 10 serve its
The mode CT such commemoratioh may
be so diversified as te be rendered CON-
modious to every section Of oar great re-
publican empire. Local genius can east
" invent or adapt modes suitable to our
modern manners and American usages.
Perhaps some Of those which fashion has
incousiae,ately prescribed ought to be