Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-22
By JOHN S.q.NDERSO.N
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC
When we consider the personal ou.I;,;o.
OF the statesmen whose names are ana 81
the Declaration Of independence. fine nor;
lous occasion which demanded the eyert;on
OF their wisdom and deIberation and -"
influence OF their councils on The interests oi
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely a more imposing spectacle has heey3
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The lere of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and CON.
stltutlon OF the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton Of the
Vlrtuous energies oil his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneraton, and
has more lmperous claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance to tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute G!
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 to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpeuty
of our republican institutions to discover az
insensibility to the obligations We owe the
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 a sovereign and independent people they
nave asserted and maintained the impresCrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred donors - and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Ut
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 contoundedn
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption /; it is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il vas
in the age of Caigula that the name Of lie
Scipios was prescribed that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the IlustnoCS
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oTdI-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conlempIa'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by then emlc,
nent qualities, that we become emulOuS o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lhemEI.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and ,I be-
came the successful rival of his fame. he
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 u'Iliy
of the publication we have undertaken, aDu
which we now submit to the patronage oil on.
fellow citizens, with hope, that from 1nS
liberality of their encouragement, we SIdI
be able to present it to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend tor lns
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou
biography, upon the generosity OF The" SUI
vIving relatives and friends, TO furnish Us WIZ
whatever interesting materials may ne II iDs.
possession for which, with our graleiTi a.,
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. III,
entire " ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be rubliiAed in NUMBER
half volumes of 200 pages, octave S f
contained in ten numbers. To the d.,
will be prefxed an appropriate Hon%J
piece-and the work will be commen',b
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, srJ'
compendious detail of the procedure
congress, during the passage OF the '; ~,
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is ,.n ~
practicable, will be preceded BY ll la.t
ness of the person, engraved by tDe D''
artists in the United States do
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mad
expressly for the purpose, and d nal't,st,
to subscribers at tao dollars and Vty ''"'
pernumber, payable on delivery a,s
~ Subscriptions received at this once