Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-23
By JOHN S.qJNDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
| OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration OF independence, the peri
lous occasion which demanded the exertiou
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and the
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, We must acknowledge that 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
dencG is interviewer with the. frame and con.
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
awaEed into activity greater exertion of the
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute O.
genius has been paid to The patriot or the be.
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 to the impe.
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuily
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
| insensibility 10 the obligations we owe the
| memory OF TIE illustriols patrons of American
freedom. They have raised u., by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguish ID elevation
OF 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, .herfo
| tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as 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 COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction Of life
lDgrattude 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 light OF
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
| not be offered to the merits OF the illustricus
| dead with an efs~tual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum ole or ord.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempla'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their sm:.
| nent qualities, that we become emulous OF
| their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of I hemis..
| tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
| Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs a.
| round bis hut the emblems bis father'sra-
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
| fellow citizens. with hope, that from tng
| liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy ("
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many Of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon the generosity OF theIrsotr.
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIE
wbateveriuteresti e materials may be IN ihsH
| possession for which, with our grateful sI.
KnCWledgmehtS, we PTomlfe COPY VI
entire " rk as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be pubIiihed in numbeE0i
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, az.
contained in ten numbers. To the nis'
will be prefxed an appropriate ircnl'si;
pisse-and the work will be commeDeehI
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures all.
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il is ,n.'
practicable, will be preceded by 'i hss,
ness Of the person, engraved by the p'''
artists in the United States. 40 \:
II. It will be printed on fine paper, maoS
expressly for the purpose, and del'els,n
to subscribers at tao dollar, and tttyce't'
pernumber, payable on delivery
w Subscriptions received at this ONCE
October 10