Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-30
By JOHN S.q.NDEPSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration OF Independence, the peri.
louS occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and the
influence OF their councils 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 al Is OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoraton, 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.
sttution OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the tlrst sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity a greater exertion of the
yirtuous energies Of his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth of veneraton, 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 the patriot or the he
ro who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity OF
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 favor bic prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations ne owe the
memory of tie illustrious patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominion OF
q foreign power, TO the 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, their for.
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 beneiactors 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 -
lngratitude is vice that in nations. as well
az individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue il 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 ilIustriouS
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration,
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or ord
| nary objects in prospect. Ii is BY contempla'
ting the life and character OF those who ART 4
marked out from the multitude by their emf b
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Themi;..
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits /
Hercules, was fred with his 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 emblems of his father'sVa'
Jour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ofouF
fellow citizens, with hope, that from ths
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration of many of the characters OF cH q
biography, upon the generosity OF tbeTsMt.
vIying relatives and friends, to furnish US VIZ
whateverinterestipg materialsmay be "n
possession for which, with our graetGS a.,
RnoWleuSUeRts, we premise copy g"
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. "a
I. The work will be puUlihed in nunbeF'g5 4
half volumes of goo pages, octave sas
contained in ten numbers. To the u"
will be prefxed an appropriate irOnlrS,
piece-and the work will be conmenctLL
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
compendious detail of the proceedngs~
congress, during the passage OF the ls~
Each OF the lives, unless when II ISL
practicable, will be preceded by lip
ness Of the person, engraved by the u"
artists in the United States. ,,lO
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maas
expressly for the purpose, and delIVerT
to subscribers at too dollars and t5tge'"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this otnets'
u