Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-19
BIZ JOHN.S4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

III HE PUBLlC.
When we consider the personal ouali;s
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the pe1.
lous occasion which demanded the exerr,
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, andd,
influence of their councils on the Interests d (
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yery
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeirr
cherished forever in the hearts of graeti
and generous people. The love of indeper.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. II is amOs
the first sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all til
actions and enterprises OF man, none BIZ J
awaked into activity greater exertion Ofh +
virtuous energies of his nature, none basN
cited greater warmth of veneratOn, 40:
has more imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and polhta
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute |!
genius has been paid to The patriot or thehe
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity dI
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 inpe.
rishable records oil fame. Ii would INDEED
be no favor bic prognostic Of The perpeui!y
OF our republican institutions to discover al
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory OF he illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised us, by tben
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiond
aforeign power, to the distinguished eIeyati@
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the mprescnp
tiole rights Of humanity by the "muhl
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theHfG
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as loE |
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts
their successors, the example of these gem. (
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word; I
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedh
The common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption it is vice ttst
implies the absence of every virtue il va
in the age OF Caligula that the name OF tht
Scipios was prescribed, that the state d
Bruius brought death on its possessor.
" The glory of our ancestors is the Lighted
posterity," and the homage of the living caE'
notSbe offered to the merits of the illusriou'
dead With an effectual or sterile admiraien'
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
achieved by men wEo have hum Die or tn-
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by coneltFl'
ting the life and character OF those " iOaF
marked out from the multitude by lheifent
nent qualities, that we become emud u d
of Mlltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Tllenf
tocles and Theseus, hearing the expltIEd
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and b.
came the successful rival of his fame IR
rude savage OF the desert listens with Rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs O.
round his hut the emblems of his fatheHya'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the Fllg
OF the publication we have undertaken, a'a
which we now submit to the patronage etc,I
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 10Y
liberality of their encouragement, We sr'ii
be able TO present it 10 the public worthyH
their appreciation. We must depend tor W
illustration OF many of the characters OF o4
biography, upon the generosity OF tbeIrs9E
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US WY
whatever interesting materials may be in theR
possession; for which, with our grateful ~ e
acknowledgements, we promise copy oil w
entire ork as q compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in Dunbef q :!
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, lls
contained in ten numbers. To the Dr.
will be prefxed an appropriate irpDI,i
plece-and the work will be comnenee.stt
with the declaration ofindependence, WIZ
engraved fac Smiles ofthe signatures an,
compendious detail of the ProceesdlI i iss
congress, during the passage OF tbe ls AZ.
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t = ~, ~
practicable, will be preceded by q l n'.
nesso! the person, engraved by Il p'
artlstS; % the United States. a,
II. 1t wIibe printed on fine paper, Ias .sd
expressly for the, purpose, and delI' t,s,I
to subscribers at tao dollars nnd. tyt5pe'',
pernumber, payable on delivery i.
~ Subscriptions re ceivsd at this oipsI
October l3