Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-20
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When We consider the personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration OF independence, the peri. !
lous occasion which demanded the exertion 7
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and the !
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in Z
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeine /
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
s%titution OF the human mind. 1t 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 q greater ~exertion of the
YlFtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth Of generation, and
has more lmperiOus claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute o!
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he
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 IRON the
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the impe-
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be 10 favor ible %prognostic Of The perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
ipsensibllity TO the obligations We W the
memory Of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have 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 honors = and, as long
as virtue holds her empire IN the hearts OF
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 COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction Of life.- /
Ingratitude is a vice that in nations, as wed IS
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneraCy and corruption ii is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age Of Calgula 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 light OF
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the i~lIustriOus
dead with an ~effectual OF sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or Ordi-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their erI:
nent qualities, that we become emuIous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot JhemS,,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, end be-
came the successful rival of his fame. Inc
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs a.
round his hut the embIems ofbis tathersV va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit TO the patronage ofCul
fellow citizens, with a hope, that from IS
liberality of their encouragement, we sndli
be able to present it to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend TOR 1s
illustration of many OF the characters OF ouI
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIE
whatever interesting materials may be II insI
possession for which, with our gratelu! a.
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Oh 'H'
entire srk as . compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nUmbeSo5
half volume, of 200 pages, octave s arc
contained in ten numbers. TO the u"
will be prefxed an appropriate ironus
piece-and the work will be commerce. I
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures anu
a compendious detail of the proceedIgs~
congress, during the passage OF the s~'
Each OF the lives, unless when it Is I'm IN
practicable, will be preceded by lihs
ness of the person, engraved by the pe"
artists in the United States. AZ 3
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, msu[ 2
expressly for the purpose, and &c hVenes
to subscribers at tao dollars and Wfyce'"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ subscriptions received at this ONCE