Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-12
By JOHN SqNDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC

~ III fUBLlE.
When we consider the personal ou%al;,is,
OF the statesmen whose names are atiyad In
the Declaration of Independence, the nsr;
lous occasion which demanded the eYertio,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and the
influence OF their councils on the interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
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 ofbeine
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepeD.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
s~titution of the human mind. 1t is almos,
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle /; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none ha,
awaked into activity a greater exertion OF the
%YlrtuouS energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited a 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 0.
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity o.
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.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorable Drognostic of the perpetuiy
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the illustrioLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, TO toe distinguished elevation
a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.I
tio'e rights Of humanity by the mutual
of their pledge of their lives, their for.
tunes and their sacred honors ;".and, as long
IS virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefsctors will not be lost to the world; !
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confounded in T
the common and casual transaction of life =
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
.degeneracy and corruption it is a vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue ii vas
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 Lighter
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the i~llustrlolS
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oToi-
nary objects in prospect. II is by contemplate
ting the life and character OF those who ere
out from the multitude by their emil
nent qualities, that we become emulous OF
their virtues and their renowD. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted ice sleepsof ihemia-
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was 6!ed with his spirit, and De-
came the successful rival of his tame. Inc
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to The deeds of his ancestors, and hangs al
round his hut the smbiems OF his fathers We
iour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, aho
we now submit to the patronage OF oh'
fe.iow-citizens, With hope, that from ths
liberality of their encouragement, we shay
be able 10 present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend tor toe
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us WI.
whatever interesting materials may be m ineE
possession for which, with our grateful a.:
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF U'
entire work as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
[. The work will be publiihed in nunbeEsG
half volumes of 200 pages, octave snI
contained in ten numbers. 10 the NJ"
will be p~refxed an appropriate iTohus
pisce-and the work will be commence
with the declaration Of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anI
a compendious detail of the ProceedInSsU'
congress, during the passage OF the In!
Each OF the lives. unless when II IS a.
practicable, will be preceded by a H.
ness of the person, engraved by the ""
artists in the United States.
I. It will be printed on fine paper, me-
expressly for the purpose, and de- ilVeler
to subscribers at tao dollars and Wtycs"'
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis OIL &C.