Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-10
By JOHN S.4.NDERSON,
TO THE pJTRIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal Qualities
OF Inc statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the per,
lous occasion which demanded the exert;o,
OF their wisdom and deiberation, and rho
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
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 a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
sttution 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
aWaked into activity greater exerton of the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has eY-
cited 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 TO the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity o.
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 impc-
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpetuily
of our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibilty 10 the obligations we owe the
memory OF the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and Independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip-
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tbeHtor- (
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be cOntoundeG IN
the common and casual transaction OF life -
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it 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 0! (
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
"The glory OF our ancestors is the light Of 5
posterity," and the homage Of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the illustTiOls
dead with an etlectuaI or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be 4
achieved by men who have humble or oTdI'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conlemPIa' {
ting the life and character OF those who are {
marked out from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emuIous o.
their virtues and their renown. he trophies {
of Mltiades interrupted the sleeps Of lhemIs-.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival Of his fame. l he
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
TO the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs d
round his hut the embIemS Of his fathers 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 Oh out
fellow citizens with hope, that from 'HG I
liberality of their encouragement, we Shai.
be able to present it TO the public woItOy u
their appreciation. We must depend Tor lDe +
illustration OF many Of the characters Of ou'
UIOSldPiJS Opou VIC SeHcIOoi'y W. uIb
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish Us we"
whatever interesting materials may be 10 81 inS,'
possession for which, with our gralelGfi t ga
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. VIC
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed innumOe's "
half volumes of goo pages, octayO' G Gmt
contained in ten numbers. 10 me we
will be prefxed an appropriate Io nD,5
piece-and the work viii be commeH';s,JJ
with the declaration of independence, M anG
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, ano
compendious detail of the procee;an9ssUc ~
congress, during the passage, OF TIE 'i IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II =, w.
practicable, will be preceded ty a TX, ia,t
ness of the person, engraved BY Inc ''''
artists in the United States. o3s
II. It will be printed on fine paper ; ms@ti
expressly for the purpose, and ds G,esrt, i
to subscribers at t7co dollars and Jyy e''''
pernumber, payable on delivery Hco
~ Subscriptions received at this ONO