Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-26
By JOHN SaNDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ HE PUBLIC s
When we consider the personal qualities
Of the statesmen whose names are affixed to
the Declaration of independence, the peri
lous occasion which demanded the exertiOn
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and the:
influence Of their councils OH the interests OF.
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely,a more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek II
vain in the annals Of nations, for an evest
more worthy Of commemoration, and OF bein9
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of in0epen-
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
~stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the FIRST sentiment that aHima,es the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity q greater s~Xertion Of tho
~yirtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth of venerati6n, and
has moro imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and p~olitlcal
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute OF
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
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe-
rishab'e records OF fame. II would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe tho
memory OF the iildstrioLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised u., by theft
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asseited and maintained the imprescript
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 foIgoti
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratltude is a vice that in nations, IS wei,
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age Of Caligula that the name of the
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory Of our ancestors is the light of
posterIty and the homage of tie living can
not be offered to the merits 9, the nL,strious
dead with an ~effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom ba
achieved by men who have humble or ordi.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by centempla.
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emuIous Of
their virtues and their re nown. The t~ropties
OF Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Phemisa
tocles and Tbeseus, 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 rapturr
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hang, =.
round his hut the emblems of his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the u;iiitv
OF the publication we have undertaken. and
which we now submit to the PATRONAGE of our
fellow citizens. with a hope, that IRON The
iiberalty OF their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it TO the public worthy OF
their appreciation. We must depend for The
Illustration OF many of the characters of orr
biography, upon the generosity of their sur
viving relatives and friends, TO furnish us with
Whatever interesting materials may be in their
possession ; for which, with our grateful ac.
acknowledgements. we promise a copy of thA
entire work as acompensatioh.
CONDITIONS.
l. The work will be publiihed in numbe,s ~
:. halt volumes Of 200 pages, octaYo. anil
contained IN ten numbers. To the FIRST
VIII be Prehxed an appropriate fronfis-
piece-ahd the work will be commences
with the declaration of Independence. win
engraved FAC SMILES of the signatures. and
a compendiou, detail of the proceedings ~
congress during the passage Of the law.
Lsen ol !ne ilves, unless when it is i'm
prasticsple, VIII De preceded BY a like.
a ae.;st % !; ,a th person. engraved by the best
u, .l Il w,!I BE- 81 printed mi On fine paper, made
TO subscribers at fwo dollars a.d A.,
ernumber, payable on delivery. "s
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