Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-22
By JOHN eS.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO TIE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal on,r,,..
of the statesmen whose names are sSyeS -
the Declaration OF independence. the n,,;
lous occasion which demanded the eyerinn
OF their wisdom and deliberation. andIo
influence o! their councils on the Interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. ye,v
rarely more imposing spectacle has besD
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek II
vain in the annals of nations, for an even
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbenc
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Il is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant
features in the cradle and amongst all t6s
actions and enterprises OF man, none b,
awaked into activity greater exertion ofbs
yirtuous energies OF his nature, none base.
cited greater warmth of veneratioD, and
has more imperious claims upon our ga.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In al! 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 to the imp.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
masgnanmlty. from Inc arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the inprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge Of their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts oil
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
the common and casual transaction ofHt.-
lngratitude is a vice that in nations. as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il 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
Brulus brought death on lis possessor.
g The glory Of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the melits Of the IIustrioI
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men who lave humble or oldi.
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by conempIa.
ting the lie and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude By their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulCUs Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
ofMiltiedes interrupted The sleeps Of ThemN.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploil:ol
Hercules, was fired with lis spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of lis fame. The
ruGe savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs a.
round his hut the embiems ofhis fAther'sH
lcur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit TO the patronage Ofcu
fellow citizens. with hope, that from tbe
liberality 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 theirs
vIyiDg relatives and friends, to furnish US wt
whateTerlnteresting materials may be in then
possession for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, We promise cory OF d,
entire Work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihsd in numbeEG
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, sd
contained in ten numbers. TO the FRI
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts.
piecs-and the work viii be commence
with the declaration OF independence, Wlii
engraved facsimiles ofthe signatures, .ad
compendious detail OF the proceediagsd
congress, during the passage OF the lsF'
Each OF the lives, unless when il is in
practicable, will be preceded by Ike
ness of the person, engraved by the be'
artists in the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and deliveTe.o
to subscribers at tao dollars and ffyeeg
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this office.
0ctobap ~ Il