Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-24
By JOHN.S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ The PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal Qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the per.
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
o their wisdom and deIiberation, and tbe
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. 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 OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tb. love of indepep.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con-
stitution OF The human mind. II is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst oil the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaGed into activity greater Sxertion oftbe
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of veneraton and
has more lmperlous claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and politlcsi
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius 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. he animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the impe.
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor lbie prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
lnsenslbility to the Obligations we owe the
Demory OF the illustrioLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
msagnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign andindependent people tbeY
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their sa cred 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 folgoi.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedH
The common aad casuai transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations. as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneraCy and corruption it is vice that
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.
-" The glory of our ancestors is the lightOf
posterity,' and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the ilusrrious
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom Le
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or oIdj'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conitntla.
ting the life and character OF those no are
marked cut from the multitude ~ tier emil.
nent qualities, that We become fmulous Of
therv virtues and their renoWn. 7 be trophies
OF Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lhemi:,
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the exploitsoi
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame Tie
ruGe savage OF TIE desert listens with raplun
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embems Of his fdther'sra'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of tie publication we have undertaken, and |
which we now submit to the patronage oioui
fellow citizens. with hope, that from the |
liberality OF their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it TO the public worthy o.
their appreciation. We must depend 70! the 4
Illustration OF many of the characters Of oU /
biography, upon the generosity OF theirsuft
vlving relatives and friends, tolurnish US WHO /
whateverlnteresting materials may be in then
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF us
entire " DIRK as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed in nunberci 1
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, ;Da
contained in ten numbers. To the MS
will be prefixed an appropriate hon's
piece-and the work will be comn1hatI
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac Smiles ofthe Signatures, apa
a compendiou. detail OF the proceediDgs%
congress, during the passage OF the e"'
Each OF the lives, unless when it's ,n'
practicable, will be preceded ty IKE,
ness of the person, engraved ~ the Is'
artists 10 the UnitedSta
II. 1t will be printed on fine parer; n' ,Di,
expressly for the purpose, and telI' emf
to subscribers at tvo dollars and tfty'H"
pernumber, payable on delivery s.s
*x* Subscriptions re ceired atthis once
October Is