Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-28
BIZ JOHN S.4yNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal oualit.,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exerm
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and hs
influence Of their councils on the Interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
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 ofbeim
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tn. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stltution Of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all t
actions and enterprises of man, none h1
awaked into activity greater exertion of
virtuous energies of his nature, none has el.
cited a greater warmth of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our grat.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and politlcI
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity d
iidil. l TIC Sdnf dS din UIedlull
marble have rescued his features from ID.
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imp..
rishabIe records oil fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpeuiy
OF our republican institutions to discover
insensibility 10 the obligations we owe tb
memory Of the illustrioLs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised us, by then
magnanimity. from the arbitrary domncnd
foreign power, to the distinguished eleyata
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrp
tiole rights of humanity by the "muul
pledge OF their pledge of their lives. therfcr
tunes and their acre6 honors :" and, as lOu
as 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 iolgo.
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoundedn
The common and casual transaction Of lie =
ingratitude is vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degenerscy and corruption il is a vice lti
| implies the absence of every virtue il Wi
in the age of Caligula that the name of de |
SCipios was prescribed, that the state /
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
he glory of our ancestors is the ligbto
posterity," and the homage Of the Iiyire can
| not be offered to the merits of the iIlusirUG
dead with an efectua or sterile admiratNl
Great and splendid actions will seldom b |
achieved by men who have hum Die OF Ordr
nary objects in prospect. II is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those wbC an |
| marked out from the multitude by their ent
nent qualities, that We become tmuICus d |
their virtues and their renown. The trcpba
| of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF IhmF.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploMd
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and }.
came the successful rival of his fame Ih
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapl@
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bane'r
| round his hut the emb!ems of his iatber'sH
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of The publication we have undertaken, aId !
which we now submit to the patronage CloH
fellow citizens. with hope, that from G
liberality of their encouragement, we sid
be able to present it to the public WORTHY,
| their appreciation. We must depend fOrW
Illustration OF many of the characters Of on
UioE tdPuJ, uPoa tuC SeHcloolt) VI "C" II
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US WI.
whatever interesting materials may be in iDen
possession for which, with Our grateful Il
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF ~
entire ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS. III
I. The work will be publiihed in number
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, III
contained in ten numbers. To the o.
will be prefxed an appropriate froDr 1
piece-and the work will be commence B
with the declaration of independence, X
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures % 4
a compendious detail of the proceedIne'sS
| congress, during the passage OF TIE la IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS rI1pD.
practicable, will be preceded by a I I't
ness of the person, engraved by 'be ~
artist. in the United States. .bE
IL. twill be printed on fine paper; ; ud
expressly for the purpose, and d eh.lgs
to subscribers at tso dollars and t)'y"
pernumber, payable on delivery ,6,
~ Subscriptions re Csived al this o~.'