Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-24
By JOHN S-4NDERSON.
TO THE PuRIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cr.gs..
of the statesmen whose names are a&yad,
the Declaration of independence. the n.,;
lous occasion which demanded the eye Ft,r
OF their wisdom and deIiberatioD. and%"
influence o! their councils on the interest, W
mankind, we must acknowledge tha. ys,r
rarely more imposing spectacle has besn
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an evo",
more worthy OF commemorative, and ofbehg
cherished forever in the hearts of ersleiT1
and generous people. Th. love of 1jensn'
dence is interviewer with the frame and coae
stitution of The human mind. Il is alnos,
the first sentiment that anImates the infant.
features in the cradle and amongst all ths
actions and enterprises OF man, none b,,
awaEed into activity greater erertion OF The
virtuous energies OF bis nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our grail.
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 be.
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 IRON lbc
grasp Of death. and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 the imp..
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpetulv
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe The
memory of tae illustriols patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, BY their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary domnionol
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescnp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirior.
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 toleo
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedi in
the common and casual transaction of life.
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree oil
degeneracy and corruption il is vice that
implies the absence OF every viriue il was
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that The stale Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
=" The glory of our ancestors is tie lighC!
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illustIiOE
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration,
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oTdI'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is BY contempt
ting the life and character OF those NhOa2
marked out from the multitude ~ their erI.
nent qualities, that we become emuous Of
their virtues and their renoWn. The tropics
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Them! /
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explOitsa
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and b.
came The successful rival of his fame. lh
rude savage OF the desert listens with raPtuH
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hang, q
round his hut the embIems OF his fAthel'srs
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, md
which We now submit to the patronage OtoN
fellow citizens. with = hope, that from s
liberality OF their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend for h
illustration OF many Of the characters Of 0r
biography, upon The generosity Of ;beifsr, /
vlping relatives and friends, to furnish Us wit
whateverlnteresting materials may be in lha
possession for Which, with our grateful az Il
Acknowledgements, we promise copy OF O
entire ok as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed innumbeI;fI
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, al
contained in ten numbers. 10 The bf
will he prefxed en- appropriate fronIf
piecs--and the work will be comnenoeE
with the declaration of independence, viii
engraved fac smiles OF the signatures, adv
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each oil the lives, unless when ii IS lE
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the Is
artists in the United States. ,jk
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper; Tnap5
expressly for the purpose, and deliver,
to subscribers at tsvo dollars ana. fttg~R
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this ONCE
0cfober ~ II