Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-28
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO TIE PUBLIC.

When we consider the personal Qualities &
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration Of independence, the Der.
lous occasion which demanded the ezerriop
OF their wisdom and de!iberaton, and leN
! influence of their councils ON the interests All
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
! offered to the world, and we shall seek in 1
vain IN the annals or nations, for an eventa
more worthy OF CommemoratlOn, and of being
| cherished forever IN the hearts OF a grateful
and generous people. Tb. love of ndepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
| stitulon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the hrst sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle ; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaEed INTO activity greater eXertion Of the
vIrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute oil
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty andI
| maintained the independence and dignity Oh
! man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historiah
has Inscribed the achievements TO the inpe-
| rlshable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
! be no favor bile prognostic OF The perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
lnsensbllity to the obligations We owe tle
| Wemory OF the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised Us, by their
magnanmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
| r., iba a ref II,
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
! tioie rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their sac cred honors - end, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors 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 casuaI transaction OF lite -
| lDgratitude is vice that in nations, as wen
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
| degeneracy and corruption ii is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il va:
in The age OF CaIigula that the name OF tie
Sepios 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 iIhsrious
! dead with an efectuaI or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men who have hum Die OF oTdi.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
| ting the life and character of those who an
marked out from the multitude by then emf
| nent qualities, that we become .muIous u
their virtues and their renown. The Tropics
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps Of itmis
toCles and Theseus, hearing the expIolEC
Hercules, was fired wiih bis spirit, and he.
came the successful rival of liis fame. Tie
| rude savage OF the desert listens with TaptuIe
! to the deeds of his ancestors, and hang: a.
| round his hut the emblems ofhis fdtEcr'sva.
| lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
| Of the publication we have undertaken, and
! which We now submit TO the patronage ofcug
! fellow citizens, /" th hope, that from The
! iiberalty of their encouragement. NE shall
be able to present it to the public worthy q
their appreciation. We must depend for the
! illustration OF many of the characters OF our
biography, upon The generosity o! ;beiI sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish us viii
| whatever interesting materials may he in tbeII
| possession J III "iiISH, Win uul SlatJIu'
! acknowledgements, we promise copy Of he
entire VI ork as a compensation.
! CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be pubIihed in numbersGi
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, ana
| contained in ten numbels To the hI''
will be pref&ed an appropriate fronts,
p!ece~-and the work viii be conn tnctfIq
with the declaration Of independence, VIII
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, anu
! compendious detail of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage OF tie I9H'
/! Each OF the lives, unless wien ii Is n'
practicable, will be preceded 10y ihe,
ness of the person, engraved by the De''
artists in the United States. J..
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper; hsCSS
!. expressly for the purpose, and deliver, .,.
! to subscribers at too dollars ond (Jlyfo"
pernumber, payable on delivery r.,
| X Suhsrrirtions re cejyed al this OBct'