Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-15
BIZ JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualts,k
of the statesmen whose names are affixed h [
the Declaration Of independence, the peG
lous occasion which demanded the exerm
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and M,
influence of their councils on the interests al
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yery
rarely a 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 bere
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love Of inJepep
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con-
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almos |
the first sentiment that animates the infanf
features in the cradle and amongst all ts |
actions and enterprises Of man, none b. /
awaEed into activity greater exertion ofhI
virtuous energies of his nature, none has al
cited greater warmth of veneration, ALL
has more imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and polite /
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 d
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from t.|
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imps.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of the perpetuiy
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe tt.
memory of the illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised us, by Their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
a 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 "mutua
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theiriU
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as losI
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts 4
their successors, the example of these geM'
rous benefactors will not be lost to the worI;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundednI
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it lis vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF ie
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the Lighted
posterity," and the homage of the living Can
not be offered to the merits of the illustroG
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Be
achieved by men WHO have hum ole or oIdI
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by contempt
ting the life and character of those who ar
marked out from the multitude by their ent
nent qualities, that we become emulOus d
their virtues and their renown. The tIOpha
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of TEENS.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eIplol:a
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and b.
came tn successful rival of his fame. he
rude savage Of the desert listens with rapHf
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs
round his hut the embIems ofhis fathersu'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utlhy
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage CqI
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lAS
liberality of their encouragement, we sh'lII
be able 10 present it to the public worthya
their appreciation. We must depend for lDe
illustration OF many of the characters Of oa'
biography, upon the generosity of :helr SUI "
vIving relatives and friends, TO furnish US Tta
whateverlnteresting materials may be in iDeL
possession for which, with our grateful 4.
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of 'n'
entire " DIRK as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers = !
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, t snI
contained in ten numbers. To the n ~.
will be prefxed an appropriate lron'rJI
piece-aud the work will be commit nee 81
with the declaration of independence, E Dd
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures sp"i
a compendious detail OF the proceetdlpgssssr'
congress, during the passage OF Inc '; IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when it IS r 1n
practicable, will be preceded by i hS.t
ness of the person, engraved by lhe ~
artists 10 the United States. ID
III. 1t will be printed on fine paper, .m. a,ii
expressly for the purpose, and deil' s',b
to subscribers at tao dollars andJyly''"
pernumber, payable on delivery g..
~ Subscriptions received Attn oA'tl
October Is