Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-10
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PIJRIJC

III If1E FUbLlC.
When we consider the personal qualitis
of the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence, the pen.
lous occasion which demanded the exertim
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and III,
influence of their councils on the interests al
mankind, we must acknowledge thai very
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 commemoraiion, and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of gralefu
and generous people. The love of indepen
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con- 8
stitution OF the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in thu cradle and amongst all thk
actions AMI enterprises of man, none bail
swaEed into activity greater exertiOn ofih.t3
yirluous energies of his nature, none has er
cited greater warmth of generation, andI
has more imperious claims upon our gratiV
tud+, than resistance 10 tyranny aDd political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of f
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he. |
70 who has promoted the cause oil liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
! 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 impe.
rishabie records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor tbe prognostic of the perpetuily
Of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensbility to the obligations we owe the
Demory of the iliusrioLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
nagnanimity from toe arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
| OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
li0le rights of humanilyzby the mutual
| pledge OF their pledge of their lives, therfor.
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire IN the hearts oil
| heir Successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefsctors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten. or their glorious deeds be conioundedin
! he common and Casuai transaction OF lite -
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as we'd
rs individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice that
| implies the absence { every virtue; il vas
in The age OF CaGgula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
| BTutuS brought death on Its poSsessor.
I" The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity,' and the homage of the living can.
not he offered to the merits of the iIIustrous
| dead with ali effectUa or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
| achieved by men VITO have hum de or ordi.
nary object in prospect. i is BY conrempa.
| ting The life and character of those " o are
| marked out from the multitude ty their emf.
| Dent qualities, that We become fmuious Of
! ibemvrtues and their reDown. The trophies
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleeps OF I kfmi
| toc!es; and Thescus, hearing the exploits Of
| Hercules. was fred 18th his spirit, and be.
came the successful rival of his fame The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
| to the deeds OF his ancestors, ard hangs a.
round his hut the emblems of his fathers va.
| lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of The publication we have undertaken, and
| which we now submit 10 the patronage of OUT
fellow citizens. with hope, that from tss
liberality OF their encouragement, we shat
be able topresentit 10 the public worthy Of
their Appreciation. We must depend for the
ILLUSTRATION OF many Of the characters of .our
! biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
viying relatives and friends, Ia turnishus It'll
! whatever int resting materials may be in theIi
possession; tor which, with our grateful &C.
( knoWledgments, We promise copy OF the
! entire Work as compensation.
! CONDITIONS.
/ /. The work will be publiihed in numbers O.
half volumes of goo pages. octave, mi
coptainedin ten numbers. To the hrs
will be pnfxed an appropriate frcntls
piece-and the work viii be CONNIE Dcet
withthe declaration ofindependeDce, will
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, and
compendious detail of the proceedings o
! congress, during the passage OF the law
| Each Of the lives, unless WREN it is IN
j practicable, will b. preceded ty IKE
ness Of the person. engraved by the bes
artists in the United States. ;.
IL. It will be printed on fine paper, MADE
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
| to subscribers al two dollars and .fiy esrf
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions re ceiyed atthis Once.
October 10