Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-10
By JOHN S.dJNDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal qualiti,,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed ~
the Declaration of independence. the ne,;
lous occasion which demanded the eyerton
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Is
influence OF their councils on the interests n
mankind. we must acknowledge tina, Ye,v
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee,
offered 10 the world, and We shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and oibeno
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. TIL. love Of injepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none Ia,
awaked into activity greater exertion OF The
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the FIRST tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or thehe.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignilyd
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 TO the mpe.
rishable records OF fame Il would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of the perpeuty
of our republican institutions to discoyetan
insensibility to the obligations we owe th.
memory Of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiono
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the irnprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity. by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirior.
tunes and their sacred donors "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 confoundedin
the common and casual transaction Of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as we'll
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption /; it is vice thal
implies the absence of every virtue it vas
in the age Of Caligula 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 lightol
Posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustroH
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldQnR
achieved by men who have humble orlO'GGf
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character of those Whodr
marked out from the multitude by thelreDr
nent qualities, that we become enuoIa
their virtues and their renown. The tToPha
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Ibtns;
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the e1plcH';ia
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and u
came the successful rival of his fame. ISs
rude savage of the desert listens with rapIOs
to the deeds of bis ancestors, and hsng'r
round bis hut the emblens ofhis fathers"
lour. -.
More need not be said to enforce the uillI
of the publication we have undertaken, a..
which we aow submit to the patronage olCa
fellow citizens. with hope, that from T
liberality of their encouragement, we sl'j
be able to present it to the public wortN
l1cIT dppIODduOu. we IHusi ucPCbN'
illustration OF many Of the characters OF ..
biography, upon The generosity of theHsMa,
viving relatives and friends, 10 furnish us%%Gs
whateyerinteIesting materials may be ID ils.
possession fer which, with our graelqi!a%,
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publihed innumbfIss
half volumes of 200 pages, octave x
contained il ten numbers. 10 the -
will be prefxed an appropriate HolI
Piece-and The work will be comIIlenps
with the declaration of independence i
engraved fac SMILES oftbe signatures. u
compendious detail of the proceeohGg
congress, during the passage OF ,Ae e.
Each OF the lives, unless when II lie
practicable, will be preceded byh a iS
ness of the person, engraved by TIC T.
artists in the United States. a,h ~
II. It will be printed on fine paper ;nt,rd
expressly for the purpose, and o nI. sss
to subscribers at tpo dollars andJy'
pernumber, payable on delivery o6c s
~ Subscriptions received al Ills o~d r