Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-16
By JOHN S.4yNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ousIie.,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed !,
the Declaration of independence. the nsS
lous occasion which demanded the eyerion
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and Il,
influence of their councils on the interests Il
mankind, We must acknowledge that ver
rarely a more imposing spectacle has bean
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemorative, and OF ben,
cherished forever in the hearts of gratef1
and generous people Th. love of inJepep.
dence is interviewer with the frame andcop.
stitution ofthe human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle !; and amongst all III.
actions and enterprises OF man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertion oiths
virtuous energies OF his nature, none has eg.
cited greater warmth of yeneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our grah.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pOlitlcd
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or The Be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity O.
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 10 the imps
rishable records OF fame. Il would indeed
be no favor tble prognostic of The perpetuig
of cur republican institutions 10 disCoyeral
insensibility to the obligations we owe Tie
memory of the illustrioLs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by thai
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiond
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people; tbeJ
have asserted and maintained the impresciP.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theiTfG'
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, abns
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 conoundedn
the common aad casual transaction Of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
-degeneracy and corruption il is vice tLsl
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name Of lhs:
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor
6 The glory of our ancestors is the ghlN
posterity," and the homage of the liylrg can
not be offered to The merits Of the illustrlOS
dead with an efectua or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or oTccf
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by con'emPh'
ting the life and character OF those who az
marked out from the multitude by Their enI,.
nent qualities, that we become emulOus; o
their virtues and theirrenown. The tIoPhe
OF Niltiades interrupted the sleepsot lenf,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eIplolsa
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, AND Se
came the successful rival of his fame. IN
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q
round his hut the emblems of bis fdtbers"'
lour. -
More need not be said to enforce the uilN}
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit 10 the patronage Oh Cu
fellow citizens. with hope, that from l ls
liberality of their encouragement, we sdg
be able to present it TO the public WORTHY =
their appreciation. We must depend tor u.
illustration of many of the characters Of on
biography, upon tbe generosity OF ibeIFsMas
vlying relatives and friends, to furnish usEIS
whatever interesting materials may be IN IOsa
possession; for which, with our grateful ~ ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. O'
entire " DIRK as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
l. The work will be publiibed in numbers
half volumes of goo pages, octave ~ =:
contained in ten numbers. To the ",
will be prehxed an appropriate lIoDr
piece-and the work will be commtnes,i
with the declaration of independence, W.
engraved fac simiies Of the signatures, a~
a cempendious detail of the proceedng:st
congress, during the passage OF the IN
Each OF the lives, unless when, II IS re E
practicable, will be preceded ny w. W,
nessof the person, engraved by lDe
artists 10 the United States. ..5,|
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m, I'd
expressly for the purpose, and d EN- ,,ss!
to subscribers at tho dollars ana. t,tyS"
pernumber, payable on delivery e,.
~ Subscriptions received at tins oAitf
!. October l3