Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-26
By JOHN S4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

To The PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oual,i,,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed h
the Declaration of independence, the per.
lous occasion which demanded the eyertim
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Il.
influence OF their councils on the interests Il
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yer
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek il
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeip
cherished forever in the hearts of a gratet6
and generous people. tn. love of indepep.
dence is interviewer. with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all Ii,
actions and enterprises of man, none hs
awaked into activity a greater ~exertion Of ths
virtuous energies of his nature, none has e.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
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 from the
grasp OF death, and the pen OF the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe-
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible p%rognostic of the perpetuIty
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility 10 the obligations we owe the
r,a,Dnry pt lha ItlI,cfpiot- nafrp,c 1T AmarIr,n
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominOnO Of
a foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge of their pledge OF their lives, tbeiTtOr-
tunes and their sacred honors - and, az. long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefsctors will not be lost to The word;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
d~egeneracy and corruption {; it is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
inthe age of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
"The glory of our ancestors is the lghld
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the i~lIusirlou'
dead with an cfectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom BE
achieved by men WHO have humble OF olGI'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contenpla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude By then enI,,
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot J btmE;
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits"
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, and te'
came the successful rival OF his fame. lN
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emb!ems ofhis fathersEa.
lour. -.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we 0 submit TO the patronage lou.
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from lIS T
liberality Of their encouragement, we sna't
be able to present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor Tue
illustration OF many of the characters OF O'
biography, upon the generosity OF ;helr s9G.
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIE
whateyerinteresting materials may be in then
possession fer which, with our grateful &c,
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF u'
entire work as 4 compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers y
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, nv
contained in ten numbers. To the ID"
will be pre6xed an appropriate lToDlE
piece-and The work will be commence
with the declaration Of independence, VIZ
engraved FAC SMILES Of the signatures, apu
a compendium: detail Of the proceedIIsss'
congress, during the passage Of the I$s'
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is ~
practicable, will be preceded by a lhs,t
ness of the person, engraved By The u"
artists 10 the United States. Il,
II. 1t viii be printed on fine paper, mSstd
expressly for the purpose, and celI's..s
to subscribers at tao dollars and Ufye'"
%pernumber, payable on delivery
*x* Subscriptions re ceived at this ohes
Octoher IL u