Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-13
BIZ JOHN S.4JNDERSOE.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaits,
of the statesmen whose names are AFFIXED
the Declaration of independence. The re,
lous occasion which demanded the cyer"n
OF their wisdom and deiberation, andIa
influence of their councils on tie Interests Il
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ysv
rarely more imposing spectacle has beeD
offered to the world, and we shall seek IN
vain in the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and oibems
cherished forever in the hearts of grateu
and generous people. The love of iljeueu-
dence is interviewer with the,frame and
stituton of the human mind. 1t is almo,
the first sentiment that anInates the infants |
features in the cradle and amongst all tbe |
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton ofh.
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration. 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, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the mp..
risbable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor able prognostic of the perpet4ily
Of our republican Institutions to discover an
insensbiiity TO the obligations we owe lhe
memory OF the illustrious patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tio!e rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge of their pledge OF their lives, therior.
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 beneiactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoundedin
the common aad casual transaction of lie
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
implies the absence OF every virtue !; il was
in the age of Caligula that the name Of The
Sciplos was prescribed, that The stale o.
Brutus brought death on its posaessor.
6 The glory of our ancestors IS the hgh!Oi
postelity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustnOu;
dead with an eAectual or sterile admiration,
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humole or oldI'
nary objects in prospect. It's BY contempa'
ting the life and character OF those wloae
marked out from the multitude by their enl::
nent qualities, that we become emulou;; o.
their virtues and their renoWn. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF IhemHii
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1plC,Ii;;a
Hercules, was fred with lis spirit, and o. Ss,
came the successful rival of his fame. Ipt
rude savage of the desert listens with rSp'uN
to the deeds of bis ancestors, and hangs q
round his hat the emblens bis idtherS"
lour. 80,
More need not be said to enforce the uiIiII
of TIE publication we have undertaken, am i
which we now submit TO The patronage 0ICG
fellow citizens. with hope, that irom lDT
liberality of their encouragement, we s0s't
be able TO present it 10 the public worthy y
their appreciation. We must depend icIR
illustration OF many of the characters 81 oal
biography, upon the generosity OF tbersgi
vWing relatives and friends, to furnish US VII.
wbateverlnteresting materials may be lnlDe.
possession for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of ~
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubtiihed innumbeT
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, a. q
contained in ten numbers. To The lF
will be preh1ed an appropriate rom
piece-aud The work y i'll be commence
with the declaration of independence w
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, AZ
a compendious detail of the proceedlrg,,
congress, during the passage OF the Im
Each CT the lives, unless when 1t lsh
practicable, will be preceded by IN
ness Of the person, engraved by ihe u,
artists the United States. d
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m IaJ
expressly for the purpose, and deI' ',st
to subscribers at fz0o dollars and Jyfyeer
pernumber, payable on delivery r..
~ Subscriptions received at this ontt'