Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-16
By JOHN S.2NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal uuas,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of Independence. the pen.
lOus occasion which demanded the exertHr
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and lis
influence of their councils on the Interests ii
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yery
rarely a 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 OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
aud generous people. Th. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and cen.
stitution 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 greater exertion Of the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
ro who has promotes the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and brea hing
marble have rescued his features from The
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imps-
riShable records OF fame. Ii would INDEED
be no favor Bile prognostic of the perpeluiy
OF our republican institutions 10 discover 40
insensibIlity to the obligations we owe lie
memory of The illustrioLs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised us, by bsl
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
. foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; lhey
have asserted and maintained the imprescrir.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirior
tunes and their sa cred honors ;" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their Successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost TO the word
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn
the common and casua! transaction OF Lille -
lngrstitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree 0!
degeneracy and corruption il is vice tai
implies The absence of every virtue il was
in The age OF Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that The state Of
Brutus brought death on its-possessor.
6 The glory of our ncestorsis the light o.
posterty," and the homage of TIE living can.
not be offered to the merits OF the illusIlOG
dead with an effectuaI or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom ts
achieved by men WHO have hum lie OF cIdr
nary objects in prospect. 1t Shy contempt
ting the lie and character OF those who az
marked out from the multitude Ey their tn.
nent qualities, that we become C1uious i
their virtues and theirrsnoHn. I be tlCEhlG
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF itnf.
tocies and Theseus, hearing the expIOltd
Hercules, was fired win his spirit. and h
came the successful rival of bis fame TEL
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a
round his hut the emblems ofhis tdthel'sH 4
our.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ciori
fellow citizens, with a hope, that from tlse
iberality Of their encouragement, we sD'I
he able to present it to the public WORTHY d
their appreciation. We must depend for Tue
Illustration OF many of the characters Of OIL
biography, upon The generosity OF ;bersglf,,
ylving relatives and friends, to furnish US NIo
whaleverlnteresting materials may be in tleH
possession ; for which, with our gratetuEst'
acknowledgements, we promise copy ol I'
entire ork as q compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed in numbers,
half volumes of eco pages, octave, 81,
contained in ten numbers. To The d."
will be preGxed an appropriate rcnIsil
piece-and the work viii be commence
with the declaration of independence, WY
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, S~
compendiou, detail of the proceedTssr~
congress, during the passage OF the a.,
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is ,l w.
practicable, will be preceded by a Ih.
ness Of lie person, engraved by tle '''
artists 10 the United States. ID,
III. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m ",ed
expressly for the purpose, and G CIV '',p
to subscribers at f1ro dollars and iy'"
pernumber, payable on delivery e,s
~ Subscriptions re ceived at this CIT #
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