Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-29
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N
TO THE PIIRIIC

".
When we consider the personal ou,,;,;o.
Of the statesmen whose names are a1ixed so
the Declaration of independence. the n.r;,
lous occasion which demanded tho eysrt;or
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that yery
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 commentator, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con-
stitutIon OF the human mind. II is amos,
the FIRST sentiment that anmates the infants
features id the cradle and amongst all the
actions anu enterprises Of man, none has
awaEed into activity greater exertion Of the
vlruous energies of his nature, none has ex-
cited greater warmth Of generation. and
has more inperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute @!
genius has been paid TO the patriot or the he.
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 the
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe-
rishable records OF fame 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of the ilustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a 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, therfor-
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as long
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 forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
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 CaIigula 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 light 0!
posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illustriOuS
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ord-
nary objects in prospect. 1t by contempIa-
ting the life and character Of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous OF
their virtues and their renown. Tbs trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Themis..
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fred 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 fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we shall!
be able to present it 10 the public worthy Ol
their appreciation. We must depend for the
Illustration of many Of the characters OF our
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
vlying relatives and friends, TO furnish us w.tn
whatever INTERESTING uldteiidio HdJ 10 't t4S'-
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tire
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers o!
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, ana
contained in ten numbers. To the hIst
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts;
piece-and the work will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, and
a compendious detail Of the proceedings Oh
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il is i'm
practicable, will be preceded by Ike
ness Of the person, engraved by the besib
artists ia the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at too dollars and .fftJI cents
pernumber, payable on delivery
W. Subscriptions received at this Office