Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-17

By JOHN &.4yVDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

When we consider the personal oualisp
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the men
lous occasion which demanded the exerir
OF their wisdom and deliberation. andh,
influence of their councils on the Interests 4
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. ur
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered TO the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of ben,
cherished forever in the hearts of grstei
and generous people. To. love of indeppO
denCe is interviewer with the frame and con-
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the hrst sentiment that animates the infant;
features in the cradle and amongst all he
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exeriiondhs
vIrtuous energies of his nature, none hassy.
cited greater warmth of veneratiOD and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute o.
genus has been paid TO the patriot or the be.
ro who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignlyd|
man. he animated canvas and LrealhHg
marble have rescued his features from III
grasp Of death, and the pen of the hsltru
has inscribed The achievements TO the IMP
rishable records OF fame. 1t would inda
be 10 favorable prognostic Of The perpetu1
Of our republican institutions to dlscoera
insensihility to the obligations We owe lh
memory of tie illustrioLs patrons OF Amelia
freedom. They have raised US, by tttn |
magnanimity, from the arbitrary douinIcd
foreign power, to The distinguished eeyslm |
OF sovereign and independent people; OeJ |
have asserted and maintained the imprescrE
tiole rights of humanity by the ''nuul
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirtN,
tunes and their So cred honors ;" and, ASIA
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts,
their successors, the example of these gem
rou. benefactors will not be lost to the wclG;
their names will not pass away nor be iols&.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundtdi
The common and casual transaction OF t = |
lrgraiitude is vice that in nations. as SA
as Individuals, indicates the last 6egrtt
degeneracy and corruption il is a vie tla /
implies the absence Of every vnut il va
in the age OF CsIigula that the name OF h [
Sclpios was prescribed, that the state q I
Brutus brought death on IFS possessor
. The glory OF our ancestors is the lightI
poster.ty," ard the homage of TIC II,ns CAD
not be offered to the merits OF the iIustrpa
dead with an efecluai or sterile admmanGI
Great and splendid actions will seIdon !
achieved by men WHO Lave nun Die CT GCt
nary objects in prospect. II is b, ccnttnpI
ting the life and character OF dose pbcat
marked cut from the multitude ty tttn
nent qualities, that we-bctone ,1uIow
their virtues and their renoWn. I be nCItHI
OF Mitiades interrupted The sleeps OF LsnfI
tocies and Theseus, hearing the expICjeSJ
Hercules, was fred " ith Lis spirit, snC t. Il
came the successful rival OF Eis fame III
rude savage OF the desert listens " til raPTi!
to the deeds of his ancestors. and bangs
round his hut the embenrs OF his tdtbel'sE
lour.
More need not be said TO enforce the udlf
OF The publication we have undertaken, 90.
which we now submit TO the patronage cltak
fellow citizens, with hope, that iron W Il
liberaIity OF their encouragement, We sfi
be able 10 present it to the public WORTHY i
their appreciation. We must depend iOrh
illustration OF many of the characters o. @
biography, upon tie generosity OF iheHs%
vIving relatives and friends. to furnish usHNp
Interesting materials may be inlDe
possession for which, with our grateful
acknowledgements, We promise copy CT u
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS. III
|. The work vii be publiihcd innunbef /
half volumes of eco pages, octave al
contained in ten numbers. TO tie lsE
will be pre6xed an appropriate lTopIG L
piece-and the work viii he ccnn'p%I
with the declaration OF independents VIII
engraved fac SMILES oflhe signatures ".lf
compendiou detail of the proceedhFtss
congress, during the passage OF lht %
Each OF the lives, unless wien II Is rp,. I
practicable, will be preceded ~ Ip,ak
ness of the person, engraved by 'he y
artists in the United States. ,,,is
II. It will be printed on fine paper; m @r,d &
expressly for the purpose, ard a e., r,rn I
to subscribers at tao dollars and J9'y'
pernumber, payable on de'ise cry. office.
~ Subscriptions re ceiyed at THIS off I