Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-18
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualais,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the peG.
lous occasion which demanded the eyertion
OF their wisdom and deIiberation. and tLs
influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, vey
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 grateful
and generous people. Th. love of indepep.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution of The human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infant,
features in the cradle ; and ,mongst all tbe
actions and enterprises OF man, none ha,
awaked into activity greater eIerton Of The
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more mperious 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.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignitycl
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from ths
grasp of death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the inpe.
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor ,ble prognostic of the perpetuily
OF our republican institutions to disCOVeTan
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory of The illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised us, BY their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominionO.
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of 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, tberC
tunes and their sacred honors - and, long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedH
the common and casual transaction OF life.
lugratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it va;
in the age of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Oh
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
/" The glory of our ancestors is the light o.
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the ilusfTlOu'
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom BE-
achieved by men who have hum Die or OIoF
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conltmPa
ting the life and character OF those who 'fe
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emuous
their virtues and their renown. The tIopAa
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleeps CT henE
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploitia
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and d @'
came the successful rival of his fame luz
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hat the embiems OF his tathers'"
lour. .,,.
More need not be said to enforce the uillIy
of the publication we have undertaken, az.
which we now submit TO the patronage OF ou
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'IS
liberality of their encouragement, we sn'I
be able to present it to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend ior %.
illustration OF many of the characters Of ou
biography, upon the generosity oil ;heIrsaah
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US W.,
whatever interesting materials may be ID ln. ".
possession for which, with our grateful a.. a..
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. W
entire Work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. ..
l. The work will be publiihed in nunbssJd
half volumes of 200 pages, octave f fr1
contained in ten numbers. To the W..
will be prefxed an appropriate ilohm
piece--and the work will be comntM.,bb
with the declaration of independence H '.5
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures %oI
compendious detail Of the pIoceeollff..Ur
congress, during the passage OF me inn; I'M.
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is r b.
practicable, will be preceded ty a ' lest
ness of the person, engraved ty me ~
artists in the United States. ,.de
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, n n"red
expressly for the purpose, and d ss, r,st,
to subscribers at tsco dollars nndtJ'y'"'
pernumber, payable on delivery os,e
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