Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-30
By JOHN S.9.NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oual;t;os
of the statesmen whose names are ,tiyed IA
the Declaration of Independence. fine r.r.
lous occasion which demanded the ex.rtio,
OF their wisdom and elaboration. and the
influence OF their councils on the interests n
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 OF commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tue love Of inJepen.
dence Is interviewer with The frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Il is almos,
the first sentiment that anImaes the infan,'s
features in the cradle and amongst all tbe
actions and enterprises of man. none has
aWaked INTO activity greater exertion Of the
vir,uous energies OF his nature, none has 'ey.
cited a greater warmth OF veueraton and
has mora impcrious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid TO the patriot or the he
10 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity u
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp of death, and the pen Of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 Tie impe.
rishabIe records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor 'ble prognostic Of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibI!ity TO the obligations we owe the
memory OF the iIusrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
o. sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrip-
tinle rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF heir pledge of their lives, their for.
tunes and their sacred nonorS )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their SUCCESSORS, The example of these gene
rous bcnefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will moi pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be- conioundcd in
The common and casual transaction OF life -
lngraiilude is vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates The last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ; il is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in The age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death Oh its possessor.
- The Z lory of our ancestors is the light 0!
posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not he offered to the merits OF the ilIu,,rlOui
dead with an eftectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ordI-
nary objects in prospect. Il is by con,empIa'
ting The life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emuIous oi
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of AIiltades interrupted the sleeps Of IkemIs-
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules. was fired with his spirit. and be-
came The successful rival of bis fame. The
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embiems of his fathers va
lUur.
More need not be said 10 enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit TO the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from The
liberality of their encouragement, We shall
be able 10 present it to the public worthy q
their appreciation. We must depend for he
illustration OF many Of the characters OF Our
biography, upon Inc generosity of their sur
NFlIlS IcldtJNtS anu W IuiHlsu us b''N
whatever interesting materials may be in theIf
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tire
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
!. The work will be publiihcd in number: OF
half volumes of goo pages, octave, snd
contained in ten numbers. To the hrs:
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, and
compendious detail OF the proceedings Of
congress, during the passage OF the la"
Each OF the lives. unless when il is IN
practicable, will be preceded by a like
ness = the person, engraved by the 6es
artists 10 the United States.
III. IL will be printed on fine paper. mace
expressly for the purpose, and de Tweed
to subscribers at tao dollars end Dtyttn
pernumber, payable on delivery
W. Subscriptions received at this 9th &C.