Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-18
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PI1RIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quatiu |
of the statesmen whose names are affixed |
the Declaration of independence, the DeG.
lous occasion which demanded the exertim
OF their wisdom and deliberaton. and Il.
influence of their councils on the Interests d /
mankind, we must acknowledge thai ver
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 commemoration, and ofbeiDs
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of indepep.
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 has
awaked into activity greater exerton Of lhs
virtuous energies of his nature, pone has ey.
cited greater warmth of venelation, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In al republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot OF the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity d|
man The animated canvas and breathM,
marble have rescued his features from lts|
grasp Of death, and the pen of the hisitia|
has Inscribed the achievements to the inE|
rishable records OF fame. 1t would iDdta
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuH
of our republican institutions to discosea
insensibility to the obligations we owe lie
memory of the illustrioLs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by thsr
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign'and independent people tbey
have asserted and maintained the impreScrip
tiole rights of humanity by the ''mutu,
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor
tunes and their sa cred honors )" and, as Iog
us virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word,
their names will not pass away nor be forget.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundeda
The common aad casual transaction OF life -
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, sVel
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
implies the absence Of every virtue; il Va
in the age of CaliguIa that the name Of The
Soipios was prescribed, that the state
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
6 The glory of our ancestors is the lightd
posterty," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the iiIustTlOG
dead with an efectua or steril, admnallon|
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
achieved by men who have bum Die or OIdr
nary objects in prospect. 1t is BY con'empfI
ting the life and character of those wbcM
marked out from the multitude by then en-
Dent qualities, that we become enu!OUs
their virtues and their renown. The hopAa
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Items
locles and Theseus, hearing the exploikd
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and b.
came the successful rival of bis fame. IN
rude savage of the desert listens with rapllH
to the deeds of his ancestors, and haresf
round his hut the emblems of his father'sH
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the udIN
Of the publication we have undertaken, a1a
which we now submit 10 the patronage Of I
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lss
liberality of their encouragement, we shat
be able 10 present it to the public WORTHY, %
their appreciation. We must depend for l
Illustration OF many of the characters Of ou
biography, upon the generosity OF :belsulrI
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US VII.
whateverinteresting materials may be in then
possession; for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF @
entire DIRK as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed innumbeFJ
half volumes of eco pages, octave, s ~
contained in ten numbers. 10 the ~
will be prehxed an appropriate lTonl
piece-and the work will be commerce.
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures az
a compendiou detail of the proceedlngsss.~
congress, during the passage OF the lSm
Each OF the lives, unless when II is rn 10
practicable, will be preceded by a III, n.a
ness of the person, engraved by lhe ~
artists in the United States. ,de
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper, pied o,,i
expressly for the purpose, and c en, e,sy
to subscribers at tao dollars aadJViy''
pernumber, payable on delivery .so
~ Subscriptions received a! TINS OFF