Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-05
By JOHN S.qNDERSO.N.
TO THE PJRJ,JC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualjss,
of the statesmen whose names are afixed n
the Declaration of independence, the nsr,
lous occasion which demanded the eyera,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, aMGs
influence OF their councils on the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge ,ha, yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has beer
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeibg
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indeper.
dence is interviewer with the. frame andcon.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all Ii,
actions and enterprises OF man, none ha;
awaEed into activity greater exerton Of The
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of generation. and
has more imperious claims upon our grai.f
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 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 his features IRON tie
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the inp..
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of The perpetuiy
of our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanmity, from the arbitrary dominiOnO.
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge of their lives, theirior-
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 benefactors will no. be lost 10 the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be Contounded in
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as wen
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice thai
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 Cur ancestors is the llghlo
postsTity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits Of the lIluiiIloU
dead with an efectuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble OF oIGl'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempa
ting the life and chsra cter OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil,
nent qualities, that we become emuous5 o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Ct lhemE,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1ploIl;0 o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and =, te'
came the successful rival of his fame. Ina
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, ard hangs I"
round his hut the emblems ofhi fdther'sVa'
Jour.
More need not be said to enforce the utllFgg
of the publication we have undertaken, arC
which we aow submit to the patronage OF ou
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from 'iS
liberality of their encouragement, we sn''
be able to present il to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend for lhe
Illustration oil many of the characters o! ouE
biography, upon the generosity OF ;heTsc!ll,
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish us WIN
whatever interesting materials may be IN lneN
possession for which, with our grateiu! az,
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF lux
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be pubIiihed in numheIsg
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, s sDs
contained in ten numbers. To The DE-
will be prehxed an appropriate iroh'ET
piece-and the work will te commence
with The declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, aDr
compendiou. detail of the proceedITggs%
congress, during the passage OF the ?s'
Each OF the lives, unless when II is ~, ~
practicable, will be preceded ty Jht
ness of the person, engraved ty The p''
artists ia the United States. j,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ms "
expressly for the purpose, and &c ll'e ',t,
to subscribers at tsro dollars and Jytye'"
pernumber, payable on delivery e.
~ Subscriptions re ceiveda at tins oi'e.'
October Is