Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-06
By JOHN .S4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

y lie PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal onars.
of the statesmen whose names are aHiyeS,s
the Declaration of independence. tbe No,
lous occasion which demanded the eys w..
OF their wisdom and deiberaton. andS.
influence OF their councils on the Interests Il
mankind, we must acknowledge tia. yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has bes!s
offered TO the world, and we shall seek II
vain in the annals Of nations. for an even,
more worthy OF commcmoration, and oibeim
cherished forever in the hearts of eraEefi
and generous people. Th. love of indepeS.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and CO...
stitution of the human mind. Il is almoe
the first sentiment that animaes the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all III.
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertion of The
virluouS eaergles OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth Of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon CUR graft.
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributec
genius has been paid to the patriot OF theM
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independ ace and dignityG
man. The animated canvas and brealhiR
marble have rescued his features from d.
grasp of death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the inpe
rishable records OF fame. Ii would Bdui
be no favor ible prognostic of The perpeaty
of our republican institutions to disCOUa
insensibi!ity 10 The obligations we owe be
memory OF he iliustrious patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised us, by tsr
magnanimty, from the arbitrary domniChG
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; Ley
have asserted and maintained the inlyresup
tioc rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theuiol.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, a;oHg
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benetactors will not be lost 10 the wCEt
their names will not pass away nurbe forget
ten, or their glorious deeds he ConloundedH
the common and casual transaction OF lie
lngratitude is vice that in nations, ssUel
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption il is vice th'
implies the absence of every virtue il vat
in the age of Caligula that the name OF ID,
Scipios was prescribed, that Tie stale
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory Of our ancestors is the llghiG
posterity," and The homage of the living c'H
not be offered to The merits OF the lliustTeA
dead with All efiectual or sterile admlraiIG,
Great and splendid actions will seldom d
oh, h,, tr,h how hmm la
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contenps
ting the life and character OF those who@
marked out from the multitude by their CT:
nent qualities, that we become emulcG;s
their virtues and their rcnown. The Iopbs
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleepso OF ] heIS
tocles and Thcseus, hearing the exploits
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and re-
came the successful rival of his fame. IE
rude savage of The desert listens with laPVN
TO the deeds of his ancestors, ard hangs .
round bis hut the embIems olhis tathel'sH
lOur
More need not be said to enforce The utlIi
of the publication we have undertaken ~
which we now submit 10 the patronage olG
fellow-c citizens. with hope, that from 20
liberality Of their encouragement, we $50
be able to present il to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend iCr
illustration OF many of the characters Of o.
biography, upon the generosity OF iheH%a
wing relatives and friends, TO furnish !Isy%
whateverntemsting materials may be " ph
possession for which, with our grateful
acknowledgements, we promise copy O. u
entire work as i compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihcd innun5efJ
half volumes of 200 pages, octave
contained in ton numbers. 10 the y
vii! be prefxed an appropriate hopp
piece--and the work will be comm(De,i
with the declaration of independence, W.
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures
compendicus detail of the proct eGhF,
congress, during the passage OF the r. r.
Each OF the lives, unless when IL is rEe
practicable, will be preceded ~ %
ness of the person, engraved W NE >
artists ia the United States. I'D
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper m1s
expressly for the purpose, and c e.. .,ry
TO subscribers al taco dollars dnd .lyy"
pernumber, payable on delivery s,e
Ky Subscriptions received al 'ils oA :.
October l8