Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-01
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PURIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouste.
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the peT.
lous occasion which demanded the exer,im
OF their wisdom and deliberations and Is
influence OF their councils on the interests Il
mankind, we must acknowledge tia. vey
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek il
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator, and ofbew
cherished forever in the hearts of gralei
and generous people. TIL. love of inJeper
dence is interviewer with the frame andcoD
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anInates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all h.
actions and enterprises of man, none b;
awaked into activity a greater eXertiOn Oihs
virtuous energies of his nature, none has e.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our gri.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributscl
genius has been paid to the patriot or thehe.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and digntyd
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 imp.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpetuly
of our republican institutions to disCOyeral
insensibility TO the obligations we owe tie
memory of tae illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by Their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominionOi
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tinle rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge of their lives, theirhr.
tunes and their sacred honors y and, ashg
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 forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoundedn
the common aad casual transaction OF lie
lpgrattude is vice that in nations, as Tel
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it IS vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue; II was
in the age OF Caligula that the name OF The
Scpios was prescribed, that the state o.
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the iIlustrlou'
dead with an efiectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom De
achieved by men who have humble or olGi'
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by conlenPla'
ting the life and character OF those who az
marked out from the multitude by then enl
nent qualities, that we become emulou;;
their virtues and their renown. The t!oPOs'
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lhemE
tocles and Theseus, bearing the e1plolsu
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and o.
came the successful rival of his fame. Inc
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs
round his hut the emblems OF MS tdtbers@'
lour. ..
More need not be said to enforce the utlllY
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage oil ou
fellow citizens. with hope, that from Ds s
Iiberality of their encouragement, we sO'i
be able TO present it to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend tor lns
Illustration OF many of the characters OF GU
biography, upon The generosity OF their SUI ,L
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US WI. y.
Whateverlnteresting materials may be ID Ins'
possession for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy Oh w.
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. =.
|. The work will be publiihed innun6eF =. u
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave s cnl
contained in ten numbers. To the w.. ~,
will be pre6xed an appropriate lroll'i5
piece-and the work will be CONNIE mex .b
with the declaration of independence Hn nS
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures snui
compendious detail of the proceedIngsr y
congress, during the passage OF the i; IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is r In
practicable, will be preceded by H 10.
ness Of the person, engraved by 'ne ~
artists In the United States. 40
II. 1t will be lsinted on fine paper, m Drsi
expressly for the purpose, and de d' .,at,
to subscribers at too dollars nndJYty '''''
pernumber, payable on delivery s,e
~ subscriptions received at ms oA'tt'
October ID