Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-29
By JOHN S.q.NDERSO.N.
TO THE PIIRIIH

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider The personal ou,Ia..
OF the statesmen whose names are Ave-
the Declaration of independence tbe M,
Ious occasion which demanded the eys r.,
OF their wisdom and deliberatiop. andG.
influence OF their councils on the interesl, =
mankind, We must acknowledge tia. YER
rarely a more imposing spectacle has bss
offered to the world, and we shall seek
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an evs,,
more worthy OF commemoraton, and oibei,
cherished forever in the hearts of gratsa
and generous people. The love OF ipdep,s,
dence is interviewer with the, frame and r.,
stitution of the human mind. Il is almnt
the first sentiment that anlmates the infant,
features in the cradle ; and amongst ali Ii,
actions and enterprises of man, none h
aWa6ed into activity greater eyertion of,h
yirtuous eaergies This nature, none bias q,
cited greater warmth of veneration. AM
has more lmperious claims upon our gri&
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute d
genius has been paid to The patriot or thehs.
70 who has promoted the cause OF llbery and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and bresliIne
marble have rescued his features from lhe
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the inp..
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be 10 favor bile pTognostic of the perpeuily
NJ ray
insensibiiily 10 the obligations We owe lhe
memory Of the ilustrious patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by tbeil
masnanimty, from Inc arbitrary dominion 81
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; tLey
have asserted and maintained the impIescrip.
tiole rights OF humanity by the "muuaI
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, tbeirior.
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, as log
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts a
their SUCCESSORS, the example Of these GEM
rous benefactors will not he lost to the word,
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or theirglorious deeds be confoundedl
tie common and Casual transaction Vi life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as rel
as individuals, indicates the last degree dI
degeneracy and corruption il is vice ttsl
implies the absence of every virtue il VA
10 the age Of CaIigula that the name Of h
Scipios was prescribed, that The stale
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the Iightd
posteri.y," and The homage of the living car
not be offered to the merits OF The ilustIR1
dead with an efitctua or sterile sdmiraiICa
Great and splendid actio3s will seldom h
achieved by men WHO bave hun. de OF ao
nary objects in prospect. 1t B.! ccnitTTF
ting the life and ci,ara cter Oi tECse Who1I
marked oni from the multitude ~ ,heHGtI
neni qualities, that we become tnujc@
their virtues and tier reuown. I he hoTtA
of kliltiades interrupted the sleeps Ct J teHr
tocies and Theseus, hearing The exploits
Hercules, was fred with lis spirit, sIt h |
came the successful rival oil his !sGe. u
rude savage OF the desert listens wlth rspb |
TO The deeds of his ancestors, and hslg:
round his let the embiems ofhis t4ttslfT
lour.
More need not be said 10 enforce the uif
Of the publication we have undertaken, ~
which We aow submit TO the patronage dG
fellow citizens, with a hope, that Gcn
liberality Of their encouragement, we ah
be able to present it to the public WORTHY
their appreciation. We must depend tMp
illustration 81 many OF the characters Of c
biography, upon the generosity of ibeira%
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish us%.E
whatever interesting materials may be S 5
possession; for which, with our gratetgaIasE
know Iedgments, we promise a copy Of y
entire work as corpenss ticn.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes OF ECO pages. octave, =
contained in ten numbers. To the y
will be prehxed an Appropriate irrfk
piece-and ihe work VIII te ccnn,Hss
With the celebration ofindepepterce, rs
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signstuFaa
a eompendious detail of the rioetfdHp.k
congress, during The passage Of he
Each OF the lives, unless wien il Is,y Is
practicable, viii be preceded ~ ~ h
ness Of the person, engraved by lie N
artists 10 the United States. Me
II. It will be printed on fine parer, d.
expressly for the purpose, aud dtlHr
to subscribers at tao dollars and .Vg~
pernumber, payable on delivery r.,
~" subscriptions received al tbs cpg