Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-01
By JOHN S.4NDERsO.y
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ liz PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal o,al;,;o,
of the statesmen whose names are atEysd -
the Declaration of independence, the nsr
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,;on
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and the
influence oil their councils on the interests 81
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has heeD
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals OF nations, fer an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in The hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
denCe is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is aImos,
the first sentiment that anjmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none ba,
awaked into activity greater exertion Of the
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has ez.
cited greater warmth Of yencraton, and
has more imperiouS claims upon our graf.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pOAtca
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute
genius has been paid TO the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Q,
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from Tie
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the historian
has Inscribed The achievements to The impe
rishable records OF fame 1t would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibilty to the obligations we owe the
memory of the ilIustrioLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, oY their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp-
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives theirtor'
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as long
rs virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
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 Contoundedn
the common and casual transaction OF lie,
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue It was
in the age OF CaIigula that the name OF tat
Scipios was prescribed, that the STATE I"
Brutus brought death on its possessor.,
=" The glory of our ancestors IS the lIghlO
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered TO the merits OF the llIus'IiOu'
dead with an effectual or sterile admiraiiGD'
Great and splendid actions will seldom gs
achieved by men who have humble or our
nary objects in prospect. II Shy contempt
ting the life and character OF those VINO dl'
marked out from the multitude by ther eHD;
nent qualities, that we become emuIouS VI
their virtues and their renown. l he iroPhie'
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepSol ht.nI
,ocies; and Theseus, hearing the e1Ploiti o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit ahu T ye
came the successful rival OF his lal,e. , -"
rude savage OF The desert listens ",'n isp.oa'
to the deeds of his ancestors, ana hailSS
round his hut the emblems OF his laIhel "a
lour. ,.1;.,
More need not be said to enforce the udll.y
of the publication we have undertaken anu
which we now submit 10 the patronage Oh oba
fellow. citizens, with hope, that from 1 . aH
liberality of their encouragement NC w. sna g
be able to present il TO the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend 'of Wv Wv
illustration of many of the characleIs .. CIV wv
biography upon The generosity Of loea s 9Th Dt
vlyng relatives and friends, to furnish Us ,ba -;
whatever interesting materials may oe IL D ~:
possession; for which, with our gra.elvf! IN S,A
acknowledgements, we promise COPY u
entire york as compensation.
CONDITIONS. l.. n,
I. The work will be publiihed IN nun no and n
half volumes of goo pages, % Dc'' tha Sr,
contained in ten numbers % 'I fron L
will be preGxed an appropriate . 1aneed
pisce-and the work will be c comm wiia
with the declaration of independence, VI. ,o3
engraved fac SMILES Of the slgna'a'GS,'g Of
compendious detail of the protee eGa law
congress, during the passage Oh !; ~ Is in.
Each OF the lives. unless when Il Ike
practicable, will be preceded Dy +be " best
ness of the person, engraved by ''S "
artists 10 the United States. ,o- made
II. # will be printed on fine p nd ddte'l"ered
expressly for the purpose, ana ana a. Sfi"eeals
70 rnbscTibers al too dollars dnaJy ~ '
p ro payable on dsllye ,by, off ee.
+ ~ Subscriptions received al 'D'' II
October 10 ----------