Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-27
By JOHN S.9NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal Qualities
of the statesmen whose names are affixed I,
the Declaratio of independence, the per. &
lous occasion which demanded the eyertio, i
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and d, (
influence of their councils on the interests d
mankind, we must acknowledge that ver
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an even, /
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeius
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infant!
features in the cradle and amongst all tie
actions and enterprises OF man, none hH /
awaked into activity greater exertIon Of&s z
virtuouS energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and Z
has more imperious claims upon our grail
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribueo
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 h,
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the impe.
lrisbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of The perpetuiy
of our republican institutions to discoyersl
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of tae illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominionO OF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrP.
tole rights of humanity by the "mutu,
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, aslOy
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o.
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefactoIs will not be lost to the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be Confoundedla
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption /; it is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il was
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 lighic
posterity," and the homage of The living can
not be offered to the merits of the ilusfTlou'
dead with an etfectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved By men wEo have bumol or oTtl'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is By contempa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their eml::
nent qualities, that we become emuous Oh
their virtues and their renoWn. ] he trophies
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleeps Of ThenF:.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1plollso
Hercules. was fired with his spirit, and De he'
came the successful rival of his fame lDs
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embiems Of his father'sVa'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utilIy
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage olou
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from lhs
liberality OF their encouragement, we slaI
be able 10 present it TO the public worthy, Oh
their appreciation. We must depend tor l@
illustration OF many of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon The generosity of their sur sur
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish Us WIZ
whatever interesting materials may be in theE
possession; for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tDe
entire W DIRK as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
T. The work will be publiihed in numbers o.
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, anu
contained in ten numbers. TO the d"
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN III
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, an.
compendious detail of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage of the Jaw
Each OF the lives, unless when it is ,1 1p
practicable, will be preceded by Exc .,
ness Of the person, engraved by the D's'
artists in the United States. ).
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mau Vi
expressly for the purpose, and deliyeleu
to subscribers at tao dollars and Effy fe'''
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions G csEed at this Once
October 10