Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-08
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualitie,
OF The statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration OF independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
oil their wisdom and dcliberaton. and the
influence OF their councils on the interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge that verv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to The world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stltutlon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the first 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 ex-
cited a 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 Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
TO 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 impe
rshab!e records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor 'bIe prognostic of the perpetuiiy
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensbility 10 the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimlty, from the arbitrary dominion OF
a foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tbeirfor-
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 fOIgO-
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
the common and casual transaction of life
ingratitude is vice that in nations, as wed
as Individuals, indicates the last degree q
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
Brutus brought death on its possessor
" The glory of our ancestors is the lightoi
posterity," and the homage of the living call
not be offered to the merits of the lustricus
dead with all ehectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or Ordi-
nary objects in prospect 1t by contempa.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
Dent qualities, that we become emulous OF .
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Themis.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits @!
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q.
round his hut the emblems OF his fathers va.
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we shaI!.
be able 10 present it to the public worthy q
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many Of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
vwing relatives and friends, to furnish Us with
whatever interesting materials may he in then
possession for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy o! w
entire " DIRK as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publHhed in Bumbero5,
half volumes of goo pages, octave, aDa
contained in ten numbers. To the hI'!
will be prefxed an appropriate tronIl'Ji
piece--and the work will be commences
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il IS m
practicable, will be preceded by IKE,
ness of the person, engraved by the otS'
artists 10 the United States. ;.
H. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maaTS
expressly for the purpose, and delivery
to subscribers at tao dollars and tytycs"'
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this once
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