Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-07
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE, PURIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quals
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence, the peG
lous occasion which demanded the exerim
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Ne /
influence of their councils on the interests
mankind, we must acknowledge that ver
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee5
offered to the world, and we shall seek h
vain in the annals of nations, for an even
more worthy OF commemoration, and OF beiv|
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. tn. love of indepeD.
dence is interviewer with the>f frame and con.
stituton of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all The
actions and enterprises of man, none ha|
awaked into activity greater exertion of ths|
virtuous energies of his nature, none has Ell
cited a greater warmth of generation, satI
has more imperious claims upon our Grail
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute d
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he|
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity |
man. The animated canvas and breathr,
marble have rescued his features from I'D
grasp of death, and the pen of the histoIn
has inscribed the achievements to the imps
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indtg|
be no favor lbie prognostic of the perprtuly!
of our republican institutions TO discover AL
insensiblity to the obligations we owe te|
memory OF the illustrioIs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by The,
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiona|
foreign power, to the distinguished eIeyatin
OF a sovereign and independent people beT|
have asserted and maintained the impresclip|
tole rights of humanity by the 'nutu,
pledge OF their pie dye of their lives, theirc;
tunes and their sacred honors - and, as lorg
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 folgd.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn|
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as we'll
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ii is vice tLal
implies the absence of every virtue; il wa|
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 lightd
posteriiy," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the iustTlOu
dead with an efeCtuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom 10
achieved by men WHO lave hum Die or OHt
al in II 70 H.,
ting the life and character OF those who arr
marked out from the multitude by their eD.
nent qualities, that we become enulous u
their virtues and theirrenown. The hophia|
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Thtm;.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1ploiiso
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and he.
came the successful rival of bis fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hang, a.
round bis hut the emb!ems ofhis fdther'sw
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, ard
which we now submit to the PATRONAGE ofCuI
fellow citizens. with hope, that from The
lberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able TO present it TO the public worthy OIL
tut1l dHpiOUdtOb. we UUSt Cep6DQ JUl wv
illustration of many of the characters CT out
biography, upon The generosity of theirsur'
viving relatives and friends, to furnish us wlib
whateverlntelesting materials may be in tbs'
possession; fer which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy, OF toe
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in numbersG
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, sn'
contained in ten numbers. To the BIS
will be prefixed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work viii be commence
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, s0o
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the l.1
Each OF the lives, unless when il is ip'
practicable, will be preceded by ISr
ness Of the person, engraved by the rs'i
artists in the U,ited States. j.,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, msOi
expressly for the purpose, and dellVeIsu,
to subscribers al fyo dollars and Uty"'A
pernnmber, payable on delivery r
~ Subscr.p tons received at this ONCE