Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-05
By JOHN S4.TDERsON.
TO THE PUBLIC

10 THE PUBLIC.
When we consider The personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are 49, "'5' "a
the Declaration of independence tLe nav -
lous occasion which demanded the $500
OF their wisdom and deiberstion >.nd ' lou
influence OF their councils on the interes,.
mankind, we must acknowledge that yor y.
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
onered TO the world, and we Shall seek in
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration. and Of Eeing
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
AND generous people. The love of mJcnen.
dence IS interviewer with the. frame and con-
sttutlon OF the human mind. Il is almost
the hrst sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all tbe
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWa6ed INTO activity a greater exertion of the
VIrluous energies OF his nature, none has ey-
cited greater warmth of yeneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and politics.
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genus 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 from the
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of the perpetuty
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the illustriols patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magDanmity, 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, tbeirfor-
tunes and their sacred hOnors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts 0!
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 contouncedin
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption It is vice that
implies the absence OF every virtue IT was
in the age of CaIigula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
Z" The glory of our ancestors is the Lighter
posterty,' and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits Of the illustrlouS
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ord-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by Conempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil,
nent qualities, that we become emu!Ous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophie;
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps Of J bemIs::
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the expIoltsOl
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. he
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems OF his fathers va
lour
More need not be said to enforce the utllIJ
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit TO the patronage OF oU
fellow citizens. with hope, that from tDS
Iiberaity of their encouragement, we sbal
be able to present it TO the public worthyO
their appreciation. We must depend tor Inc
illustration Of many of the characters OF om
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur !iIt
vlying relatives and friends, TO furnish us WIh
whatever interesting materials may be in iheH
for which, with our grateful az
we promise copy OF uN
entire " ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, spu
contained in ten numbers. To the DID,
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts
piece--and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, 1n1;
compendious detail of the proceedIngsU'
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t is ln..
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by Inc De''
artists in the United States. IL
II. II will be printed on fine paper, maaS5
expressly for the purpose, and dell'el ere
to subscribers at t1po dollars and tyes""
pernumber, payable on delivery no
~ Subscriptions received tins oHttt
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