Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-31
BY JOHN .S.f,NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualitiea
OF The statesmen whose names are affixed 70
The Declaration of independence. the ppr.
lous occasion which demanded the extrtion
oil their wisdom and deibaration. and the
influence OF their councils on the interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of Icing
cherished forever in The hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tue love of indepen
dence Is interviewer with the frame and con-
stituilon OF the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that anma,es The infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaked into activity greater exerton Of the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has mora imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute o.
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted TIE cause of liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity OF
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to tb. impe-
rishabIe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
ne no favor 'ble prognostic of The perpetuty
OF our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF thr IilustrioLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimty, from the arbitrary dominion o..
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrip.
TITLE rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors - and, as long
IS 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 forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be- COMPOUNDED in
he common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
rs individuals, indicates the last degree OF
degeneraCy and corruption ii is a vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age OF CaIigula that the name OF the
Sclpios was prescribed, that the state of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the iliustrious
dead with an elfectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hun Die or ordi-
nary objects in prospect. II is b, caniempla.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emulous of
their virtues and their reDoWn. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of bemis-
locIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a
round his hut the emblems of his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage Of our
fellow citizens. with a hope, That from the
Iiberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able 10 present it to the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration of many of the characters OF our
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
vIving relatives and friends, toiurnish us witt,
whatever interesting materials may he in their
possession for which, with our grateful acs
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tfS
entire ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed innumben or
half volumes OF 200 pages, octave, and
contained in ten numbers. To the FIRST
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts.
pisce-and the work Will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, and
a compendious detail Of the proceedings OF
congress, during the passage oil tbe law,
Each OF the lives, unless when it is i'm.
practicable, will be preceded by ike
ness of the person, engraved by the best
artists in the United States.
III. II will be printed on fine paper, made.
expressly for tie purpose, and de livered
to subscribers at tTo dollars and fry cents
per number, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received this Off &C.