Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-01
By JOHN S.4.NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal uuslif.,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of Independence, the peT,
Ious occasion which demanded the exertio,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, andlIs
influence OF their councils on the Interests 4
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has beSss
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 grateful
and generous people. Th. love of iHdepep.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
sitution of the human mind. 1t is almOy
tie first sentiment that anImates the inant,|
features in the cradle and amongst all ths
astions and enterprises of man, none hu
avaEed into activity greater exertion ofh
vrtuous energies of his nature, none has eI.
Cied a greater warmth of veneratoD and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tube, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
n al republican states the first tribute d
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he.
ro who has promoted the cause OF liberty anil
maintained the independence and dignity d
man. The animated canvas and bTealhE|
marble have rescued bis features from b|
grsp Of death, and the pen of the historig|
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impI
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indtsI
be 40 favor lble Drognostc of the perpelut[
of oar republican institutions to discoyeIgI
insensibility TO the obligations we owe hI
neuory of tie illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by thu |
magranimity, from the arbitrary dominion
foreign power, to the distinguished elevate |
of sovereign and independent people thgI
have asserted and maintained the imprescigI
tiole rights of humanity by the "mutm
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, thein |
tunes and their sacred h0norS )" and, asb MI
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts
their successors, the example of these gene /
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoundedhl
the common and casual transaction Of life Il
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as va
as individuals, indicates the last degp,
degeneracy and corruption ii is vice th l
implies the absence of every virtue it Va
in the age Of CaIigula that the name OF IL (
SGipios was prescribed, that the state d
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
. The glory of Our ancestors is the lighoI
posterity," and the homage Of the living Ca
not be offered to The merits of tbe iIlu,tTNsI
dead with an efeclual or sterile admIratdl
Great and splendid actions will seldom Il
achieved by men WHO have hum Die OF Gal
nary objects in prospect. / is by coneHP1
ting the life and character OF those whoa
marked out from the multitude by theIreEl
nent qualities, that we become tmuIOu!
their virtues and their reDoWn. The tTClb5I
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps OF 1bnFI
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explo&dI
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and tFI
came the successful rival of his fame lsI
rude savage OF the desert listens with rPiu
to the deeds of bis ancestors. and bsDgf
round his but the embiems his fatheT:EI
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the uifI
of the publication we have undertaken, mk
which we now submit to the patronage dGt
fellow citizens. with hope, that from u
liberality of their encouragement, We S'E
be able to present it to the public WORTH II
their appreciation. We must depend tCIrI
illustration OF many of the characters Of
biography, upon The generosity of theHSyt
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish n:TH.l
whatever interesting materials may be lnp.
possession for which, with our grateiy9Ss
acknowledgements, we promise copy o.
entire W ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS. i
|. The work will be publiibcd in Numbers
half volumes of eco pages, octave
contained in ten numbers. 10 the
will be prefXed an appropriate Henyk
pisce-and the work will be ccmntp
with the declaration of independence, Al
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signaiuIts~a
a compendiou: detail Of the proceedl'Ff Il
congress, during the passage OF tbe
Each OF the lives, unless when il ~,
practicable, will be preceded by ii
ness of the person, engraved by Inc
artists in the United States. III
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper Ie
expressly for the purpose, and d s,''seak
to subscribers at tao dollars ondly'yS
pernumber, payable on delivery sn
s** Subscriptions re ceved at this oD 'a
n.toIar L.