Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-05
Be- JOHN s.aJNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

III IHE PUBLIC.
When ne consider the personal quaIiIs,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the pet.
lous occasion which demanded the exertpa
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and tn
influence of their councils on the Interests d
mankind, we must acknowledge that verf
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek ia
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy oil commemoration, and Of beirsE
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of inJeper
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con-
stitution oftbe human mind. 1t is alm@E
the first sentiment that animates the infanf.k
features in the cradle and amongst all tkk
actions and enterprises of man, none haR
awaked into activity greater exertion ofaes
virtuous energies ofhis nature, none has ED
cited a greater warmth of .veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon cur gratit
tuae, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
IN all republican states the first tribute oil
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and|
maintained the independence and dignity oil
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 oil fame 1t would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of The perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
iRsensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimty. from Inc arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people; they
tiole rights of humanity by the $ mutual
pledge Of their pledge Of their lives, theirior|
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts q
their successors, the example of these gem
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word;
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundeduI
the common and casuai transaction Of life i
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wed
as individuals, indicates the last degree Oi
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il wa
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 Lighter
posterity, . and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the illustrioH
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldon be
achieved by men who have hum Ole or oldI'
nary objects in prospect. II is by contempt
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
theirvirtues and their renown. The trophla
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Tbemls
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explond
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. Tt
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapuu
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q
round his hut the emblems ofhis father'ss
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the u;ilfJ
of the publication we have undertaken, aud
which we now submit to the patronage ofoa
| fellow citizens. with hope, that from toe
liherality of their encouragement, we shap5
be able topresent it to the public worthy o.
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
p'oSidPHy, upon tiIc SSHSlooity VI ehci -. al
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whateverlnteresting materials may be in ths'
possession for which, with our grateful a.
| acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tD'
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
| /. The work will be publiihed in numbera
halfvolumes Of 200 pages, octave, al'
I contained in ten numbers. To the bn
| Will be prefxed an appropriate fronts
piece and the work Will be commences
withth declaration of independence, VII,
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, ana
a compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the Jaw
Each OF the lives, unless when it is 10
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the -ps'
| artists ia the United States. !,
| II. It will be printed on fine paper, mac 10,
| expressly for the purpose, and deliFeI ],
to subscribers al tuo dollars and fsftscfs
| pernumber, payable on delivery
w Subscriptions received at this Once &c
/, October rs
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