Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-22
By JOHN S,4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC


When we consider the personal qualities
OF me statesmen whose names are affixed r.
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exerton
OF their wisdom and delberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely 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 being
cherished forever in the hearts Of q grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence IS interviewer with the, frame and cor
stItution OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the hrSt sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton of the
yIrtuous energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth Of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid 10 The patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity OF
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from Tie
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 the impc.
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the ilIustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their /
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrip.
tiole 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 d !
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world; 4
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED 10 4
the common and casual transaction of life -
lDgrattude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age of Caligula that The name OF the
Sclplos was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" / he glory Of our ancestors is the light Of
and the homage of the living can.
not be offered TO the merits Of the ilIustriouS
dead with an eifectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ord-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempla-
ting the life and character of those who arc
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emulous OF
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
Of Niltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Thems. +
tocles and Theseus, bearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be. 4
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 fathers va
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ofou
fellow citizens. with hope, that IRON the
iberallty OF their encouragement, we shal
be able TO present it TO the public worthy d
heir appreciation. We mN;t depend for the
Illustration OF many of the characters Of OIL F.
biography, upon The generosity of tbeirsuf
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us wit
interesting materials may he in heS
possession for which, with our grateful az
we promise a copy OF TT a
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
[. The work will be publiihed in numbers o.
halt vSlumes OF 900 pages, octave, aIl
contained in ten numbers. To the hn'
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts:
pece~-and the work will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, win
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, aao
compendious detail of the proeeeding;O'
congress, during the passage OF the Is@
Each OF the lives, unless when it is I'm
practicable, will be preceded by IKE,
ness of the person, engraved by the Oes'
artists in the United States III
l. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace 81
expressly for the purpose, and delivefel e
to subscribers at tao dollars and Vtyce"'
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this office