Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-20
By JOHN S.qNDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC

"hen we consider the personal ouslifs,
OF the statesmen whose names are .A;yad 80
the Declaration OF independence. the nor;
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,;an
OF their wisdom and elaboration and ,bn
influence OF their councils on the interest. Wv
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain IN the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator. and ofbeino
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of i6jppen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitutlon Of the human mind. Il ia alnoc
the first sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none ha,
aWaked into activity a greater exertiOn of the
vlrtuouS energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth OF generation, and
has more lmperlous claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid 10 The patriot or the be.
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 ID.
grasp OF death, and the pen Of The historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 The mpe.
rIsbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to The obligations we owe the
memory of the iluslroIs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
nagnanmity, from the arbitrary dominion Ct
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and Independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip.
tlole 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 Of
their successors, the example of these gene
roHs benefactors will not be lost TO the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, Or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED 10
The common and casual transaction of life
lugratituGe is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
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 Ijghtol
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the fllus'TlO1S
dead with an effectual or sterile admTatOn' )
Great and splendid aCtioas will seldom be I
achieved by men who have hum Die or onl" /
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempa"
f,no. IL he, onI ~ thpco rim are
marked out from the multitude by their enlc.
nent qualities, that we become emuIous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepso hemlS..
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits o.
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 a.
round his hut the emblems Of his father va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from me
iberality of their encouragement, we shaI,
be able to present it to the public worthy O
their appreciation. We must depend Tor lit
illustration OF many of the characters OF oui
biography, upon The generosity OF ;hsr SUI,
vlying relatives and friends, to furnish us wllt
whatever interesting materials may be III iheH
possession for which, with our grateful &C,
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF ''s
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiibed in numbeTOi o.
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, sna
contained in ten numbers. 10 the hS'
will be prsfxed an appropriate fronts
peee--and the work will be commences
with The declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
compendious detail OF the proceedIngso'
congress, during the passage OF the Ism'
Each OF the lives. unless when 1t Il ,p'
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the Oe''
artists ia the United States. J.
II. It will be printed on fine paper, mauJJ
expressly for the purpose, and ellVele.
to subscribers at toco dollars ana. jytycs'"
per number, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received al this ONCE