Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-14
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE p3JBJJC

" lie l.
When we consider the personal oual;.;e,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixe;f IA
the Declaration of Independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exerton
OF their wisdom and delibcration, and the
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina: very
rarely more imposing spectacle has besg
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoraton and of Icing
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. tn. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer With the frame and con-
sttution of the human mind. II is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in thS cradle and amongst all The
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertiOn ofthe
virtuous energies of his nature, none has eS.
cited greater warmth of veneraton, 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 be.
| 70 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, aud the pen OF the historian
| has Inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
| rlshable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpetuy
OF our republican institutions to discover az
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory OF The illus;rioLs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by their
Al, on from, too orbif,o d., 81
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of a sovereign and independent people ibey
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tioie rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives. therior
tunes and their sac cred honers ;" and, as long
| as virtue holds her empire in the hearts q
their successors, the example of these gene
| rous benetactors will moi be lost to the word;
TIER names will not pass away nor be lolgo.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundedin
The common and casual transaction OF lie -
| lngratilude is vice thai in nations. as vel
| as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption /; it is vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue it was
| in the age OF Caligula that the name OF the
| Scipios was prescribed, that the stale Of
Bru'us brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the lighlo
| posterity," and the homage of the living can.
| not be offered 10 the merits of the ilustriCu;
dead with an effecluaI or sterile admiration.
| Great and splendid actions will seldom be
| achieved by men WHO have hum Die or oldi
nary objects in prospect. 1t is b, conttnpl3'
| ting the life and character of those " he are
| marked out from the multitude by then enI.
nent qualities, thai we become eIuoUs u
| their virtues and theirHDoNn. Tie uClIe
OF Miltlades interrupted the sleeps Of ! itnE.
tocles f.; and Theseus, hearing the exploiHG
| Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, enc te
came the successful rival of bis fame Tie
rude savage OF the desert listens With rartuTs
| to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs a.
| round his hut the emblems ofhis falIler'sr
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
oil the publication we have undertaken, and
which We now submit 10 the patronage ofcrr
| fellow citizens. with hope, that iron tie
ilberality OF their encouragement, we shall
| be able topresent it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend for lie
illustration OF many of the characters OF OH
| biography, upon The generosity OF ;beir sur
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whateverlnterestlng materials may be in the'
possession for Which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of tf'
entire DIRK as compensation.
| CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in number:oi
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, snd
contained in ten numbers To tbe tH
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commence
| with the declaration Of independence, viii
engraved fac Smiles ofthe signatures, aro
compendious detail of the proceedirgso
congress, during the passage Of the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il is ID
practicable, will be preceded by I,Se,
ness of the person, engraved ~ The be''
| artists 10 the United States. ;.
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maodd
expressly for the purpose, and delIVetu
to subscribers at tao dollars and tJtyttH
! pernumber, payable on delivery
w Subscriptions received al this once e.