Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-14
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERSOyN.
TO THE PURIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal Qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
| louS occasion which demanded the excrtion
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and III,
! influence OF their councils on the interests Of
| mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely amore 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 grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con-
stltution OF the human mind. It is almost
the first sentiment that anjmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertion of the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
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 to the patriot or the be-
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity OF
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 favor bile prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensiblity to the obligations we owe the
memory of the ilIustrioLs patrons of American
| freedom. They have raised US, by their
| magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and Independent people they
| have asserted and maintained the impresCnp-
! tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirlor-
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts 81
| their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world;
| their names will not pass away nor be forgot
| to-, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED il
| The common and casual transaction OF lie -
| lngrattude is vice that in nations, as well
| as 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 b
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the AlusriOuS &
Great and splendid actions will seldom be +
achieved by men who have humble or oTdI-
nary objects in prospect. 1t shy CenempIa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emI-.
nent qualities, that we become emUIouS 9! {
ftheir virtues and their renoWn. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF hemI-
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be be-
came The successful rival of bis fame. he
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems OF bis father va
lour .,
More need not be said 10 enforce the utl'y
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we new submit TO The patronage ol oui
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'nG
liberaity of their encouragement, we shalt
be able to present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend tor Ine
illustration OF many of the characters Of oul
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heHs ';tt
v1ving relatives and friends, to furnish US ~
whatevernteresting materlalsmay 9e IL G t'.[.
possession; for which, with our gTaIeiuii 49, ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy u ~
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in nUhpe'S -. ~ B
half volumes of 200 pages, oc'ay0' S s~t
contained in ten numbers. 10 NE va.
will be prefxed an appropriate son"IJ
piece-and the work will be comnel.;sGI
with the declaration Of independence wiz. VIA
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, am
compendious detail of the proceesSGlDgsrU
congress, during the passage OF tne 'G ;".
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS ,I im
practicable, will be preceded by 'I Is.
ness of the person, engraved by Inc ~
artists in the United States. ado
II. 1t will be printed Oh fine paper, . mSpdd 7,
expressly for the purpose, and de d'.,rt
to subscribers at tao dollars and tJtyC""
pernumber, payable on delivery H..
Cnhcrripti0ns re- ceiVed at THIS OIlCC'