Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-22
By JOHN SqNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quafG,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the peE
lous occasion which demanded the exertr
oil their wisdom and deIiberaton, and M
influence of their councils on the Interests A.
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ysyE
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and We shall seek h
vain in the annals of nations, for an even s
more worthy OF commemoration, and oibelrE
cherished forever in the hearts of graetjk
and generous people. The love of ndepe.
dence is interviewer with the frame andcn.
stitution of the human mind. II is anN B
the first sentiment that anIInates the ihisal
features in the cradle and amongst all til
actions and enterprises OF man, none Ia
awaked into activity a greater exertionofkE
virtuouS energies of his nature, none has CT
cited greater warmth OF veneratOn aE
has more imperious claims upon our grail
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poliA:
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributeaE
genius has been paid to The patriot or hett
TO who has promoted The cause OF liberty an. k
maintained the independence and dignity u
man. The animated canvas and breatbg (
marble have rescued his features from kE
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the his0Ea :
has inscribed the achievements to the mN
risbable records OF fame 1t would INDEED
be no favor bile prognostic of the peTpeuiT
OF our republican institutions TO discovelaI
insensibility 10 the obligations we owe tkk
memory ofthe illustriols patrons Of America
leedom. They have raised US, by tbel
magnanimity, from the arbitrary donincnt
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; tg
have asserted and maintained the imprescPt
tole rights of humanity by the " mua
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theifN I
tunes and their sacred honors - and, asbW /
as virtue holds her empire in the heart: q
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefsctors will not be lost to the word
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be coDfouDdedG
the common and casual transaction lie
lpgraiitude is vice that in nations, as ven
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice thi
Implies the absence of every virtue il va
in the age OF Caligula that the name Of The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state q
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the lishld
posterity," and the homage Of the liyirg can
not be offered 10 the merits OF the i!luslroH
dead with an efeotual or sterile admlTaICa
Great aud splendid actions will seldom De
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or oG'
nary objects in prospect. |! is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those EbosF
marked out from the multitude by there n:
nent qualities, that we become emulcuS O
their virtues and their renown. The tIcphe'
of MiItiades interrupted the sleeps Of henf
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the exploIi:a
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and De-
came the successful rival of his fsme. IN
rude savage OF the: desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a
round bis hut the embiems of his father's'a'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the udlN}}
of the, publication ne have undertaken, ANU
whichme now submit 10 the patrcnase Of o Sl
lellow.citizens. with a hope, that from l w
liberality of their encouragement, we sD'gI
be able present it to the public WORTHY u
their appreciation. We must depend Tor l@ o..
illustration OF many OF the characters OF o.i
biography, upon. the generosity OF ;beirsoaEL
vIvng relatives and friends, to furnish Us Hls
whateverlnteresting materials may he IN nsa
possession for which, with our grateful a. q,
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. W
entire work as q compensation.
49,. CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publihed in numbers
half volumes of goo pages, octsyo, f fnI
contained in ten numbers 70 the w. v,
will be prefxed an appropriate iTonl,i
piece and the work viii be conmtpG,SS
with the declaration Of independence, wa
T. engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, apO
compendious detail of the proceedlFg'~~
congress, during the passage OF the E ~
Each OF The lives, unless when it is nv, In
practicable, will be preceded by a 'l hr.
ness of the person, engraved by the ~
artists 10 the United States Il.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ma ,el
expressly for the purpose, and deliver -,
to subscribers at tovo dollars and Jffys"'
pernumber, payable;on delivery g..
w Subscriptions received at this ob',t
Octoberl3 - a8