Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-08
By JOHN .S.4NDERSO.N,
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouat;s.
OF the statesmen whose names are afyeG ~
the Declaration of independence, the nor;
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,;o,
OF their wisdom and ieiberatioD. and tho
influence OF their cou - 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 commemoralion. and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of graleiI (
and generous people. The love of inJeppn.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stItulion OF the human mind. II is almost
the tlrst sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none has
aWaHed INTO activity greater exertOn Of the
vlrtuous energies of his nature, none has ex-
cited greater warmth of generation, 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 OF 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 The
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the impe.
rshable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor able prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
inSensiblity to the obligations we owe the
memory of the i'lustrioLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion O.
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained The mpresCrp-
tioe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, tbeirior.
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 I
ten, or their glorious deeds be COntOunded 10
the common and casual transaction OF lie -
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as wei &
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption ; 1t IS vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue ; il va;
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of &
Brutus brought death on lis possessor.
" The glory Of our ancestors is the Iight0.
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the IIusrloT
dead with an etfectuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ordl'
nary objects in prospect. II is by cOnempIa'
ting the life and character of those who are 4
marked out from the multitude by Their emi.
nent qualities, that we become emulOU; %
their virtues and their renOwn. The trophies
of Mltiades interrupted the sleepsoi hcmIsIc
tocles and Theseus, hearing the EXPLOITS Oh
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and DE De-
came the successful rival Of bis fame, lie
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs d
round his hut the emblems othis ta'heFsF Va
lour. .,,-,
More need not be said to enforce the utIIIy
of the publication we have undertaken dna
which we now submit TO the patronage " Cll
fellow citizens. with hope, that from w. n
liberality of their encouragement, we sn',i
DE able 10 present II 10 Tue puDiis Tho
their appreciation. We must depend 'o[ VI" W..
illustration OF many of the characters Of ".
upon The generosity OF iher 18th sT
vwing relatives and friends, to furnish Us W"
whateverinteresting materials may be 10 wv,
possession for which, with our gra'elgI! , ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy u -
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed lnnUnDS'. .r ri
half volumes Of eco pages, oct&TO' G G~
contained in ten numbers. 10 ibe , o.,
will be prefxed an appropriate hCn1l5
piece-and the work will be conlINen.iatb
with the declaration of independence, n ,"5
engraved fac Smiles Of tie signatures, a"0
compendious detail of the proeees,omSf.. -
congress, during the passage OF l0s 10; IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II ,pe.
practicable, will be preceded by ' bC:,
ness of the person, engraved ~ '"'
artists in the United States. ,,,ds 4
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ;rne od ],
expressly for the purpose, ana 1 re6,'tlrr 4
to subscribers at tao dollars ana Jyty
pernumber, payable on delivery oai,e
~ Subscriptions received at this oiDt