Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-19
By JOHN .S4NDERSON
TO THE pURIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal onaTt;o,
OF the statesmen whose names are afiyod ~
the Declaration of independence. the ner
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,ior
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has hesn
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. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the,frame and con.
stltutlon OF the human mind. Ii is almost
the hrst 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 ex.
cited greater warmth of yeneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression,
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid TO Tue patriot or the he
TO 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 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic OF the peTpetutY
Of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
a foreign power, to tho distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip-
tioIe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirlor-
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 -
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue 1T 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 lustrouS
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ordl-
nary objects in prospect. 1t sby conlempa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their eml..
nent qualities, that we become emUIous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF temE..
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fred with bis 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 hangs a.
round his hut the embIems his fathers va
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 cur
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lhs
liberality of their encouragement, we sbaIi
be able TO present it to the public worthy u
their approba son. We must depend for The
Illustration OF many of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon The generosity OF ;helF sur sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US WIN
whatever interesting materials may be in tnen
possession for which, with our grateiu. az,
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of u"
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiSed in numbers y
half volumes of goo pages, octave, sna
contained in ten numbers. To the IiN
will be prefxed an appropriate lron'li
pece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration Of independence, VIE
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
a compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF The law
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t IS nl'
practicable, will be preceded by a Ike re-,
ness of the person, engraved by the pe''
artists in the United States. ;.
II. It will be printed On fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and deliyelsc
to subscribers at t9yo dollars and Eftye sh8
2 pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis once