Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-20
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualigs,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed,
the Declaration Of independence, the psr.
lous occasion which demanded the eyerti,.
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and,I.
influence OF their councils on the interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yer
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 commemoration, and ofbem
cherished forever in the hearts of grate6l
and generous people. The love of indeDen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution ofthe 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
virtuouS energies Of his nature, none has ex
cited greater warmth of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance TO 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 Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble bave rescued his features from lhe
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the impe.
rishable records Of fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuy
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibllity to the obligations we owe The
memory OF t5e lllustriOLs patrons oil American
freedom. They have raised us, by thei;
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescnp.
tioIe rights of humanity by the muuaI
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theTlOr.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as lOg
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 folgo,
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedr
the common and casual transaction of life
ingrattude is a vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption [; il is a vice that
implies the absence OF every virtue il vas
in the age of Caligula that the name OF iki
Scipios was prescribed, that the state
Brulus brought death on its possessor.
/" The glory of our ancestors is the lighG
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered TO the merits of the ilIustriCa
dead with an efectua or sterile admIratiOb
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or ordt
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conlempi
ting the life and character ofIbose who an
marked out from the multitude by their eBl.
nent qualities, that we become emulous q
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of 'Ibenl:,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. Ih
rude savage of the desert listens with rapm
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs T.
round his hut the emblems ofhis fathersH
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, s5i
which we now submit to the patronage otea
fellow citizens. with hope, that from tRs
liberality of their encouragement, we sb'I
be able TO present it to the public worthy,
their appreciation. We must depend fo[ia.
Illustration OF many Of the characters Of Gn
biography, upon The generosity OF ;beirsa9rI
viying relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whatever interesting materials may be in thsr
possession for which, with our grateful o.
Acknowledgements, we promise copy Of IH
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, az
contained in ten numbers. To The d."
will be Pr, fixed an appropriate ironf
piece-and The work will be comn,pft.
with the declaration of independence, VIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, @
compendious detail of the proceeding
congress, during the passage OF the l:'
Each OF the lives, unless when il is r. "
practicable, will be preceded by a ~ ~.
ness of the person, engraved BY Inc }"
artists in the United States. II
II. II will be printed on fine paper m,s
expressly for the purpose, and delh ''sg
to subscribers at fzeo dollars and yiy"
pernul Der, payable on delivery H.,
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