Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-14
By JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PURIJC.

" L HE fUbLlE.
When we consider the personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of Independence, the peril
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
Of their wisdom and deIbcration, and the
influence OF their councils on the interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy oil commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love OF indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con-
stitution Of the human miRd. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that ani;nates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerlion of the
virtuous energies OF his nature; none has ex-
cited greater warmth of yeneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our grati-
tude, than resistance to tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute ot
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted the Cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity OF
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
bias inscribed the achievements to the impe-
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of The perpetuity
OF CUT republican institutions to discover an
insensiblity to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the illustriots patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
nagnanimiy, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to The distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the itnprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the. mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example OF these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world:
their names will not pass away nor be foigot-
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction of lie
lngrattude is vice that in nations, as wei.
as individuals, indicates the last degree of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
| in the age Of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state of
Brutus brought death on its possessor. /,
The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterlty, and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits Of the i!us,rious
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great'and splendid actions will seldom ba
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordi.
harry objects in prospect. Ii is by coltempla-
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we becomt emulous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
OF Nliltiades interrupted the sleeps of ThemisI
tocles and Theseus, hearing The exploit, IS
Hercules, was fred with his spirit. and he.
came the successful rival of his fame. Tba
rude savage OF the desert listens with raptura
| to the deeds of his ancestors. and ban5. a.
round his hut the emblems Of his fathers va.
| lour.
More need not be said to enforce tie u;;liiv
, Of the publication we have undertaken. ,na
which We now submit to the patronage Of our
teilow.ctizens. with hope, that from ibe.
liberality OF their encouragement. we sbai1
be able to present il to the public worthy "a
their appreciation. We must depend far ihe.
illustration OF many of the characters Of onr
biography, upon The generosity of their sur-
vivlhg relatives and friends, to furnish us viii
whatever interesting materials may be in their
possession for which, with our grateful ao-
acknowledgements, we promise "a copy of thts
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS
i. The work will be phbliihed in nunb.,, ~
halt volumes of 200 pages, octavS, anS
d. contained in ten numbers. To n. S Sv
will be p1efixed an appropriate frop aise
pisce-and the work will be- cor, Ususs
with The declaration Of independence VII, viii,
: engraved lac SMILES of the signatures and
conpend,ous detail Of the proceedings s1 ~
congress, during the passage Of the sw -
Each Of the lives, unless when if !, inv.
practicable, will be preceded by 4 liz; i
ness OF me person, engraved by the hes,
artists ~ the United'Siates. 94l4 'ss
II. Il wn' De printed on fine paper. mads
/, expressly for the purpose, and deiive aus
to subscribers at tSTo dollars and ffiy e.nt,
Per nSSmber. payable on delivery. ~''
subscriptions received AZ ib;s oH.