Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-21
By JOHN S4NDERSOr
TO THE PLIRIIr

TO THE PUBLIC
When we consider the perSonoI ,.,.
OF the statesmen whose names are .$ u@'1'ts
the Declaration of independence 1bn 70
lous occasion which demanded tho 'a avo ptn'
OF their wisdom and deIiberatiop and ,Ha
influence OF their councils on the intsras,. 'l ~;
mankind, we must acknowledge that v.r y,
rarely more imposing spectacle has hoy
offered TO the world, and We shall Sso Isen
vain in the annals of nations, for an opon II,
more worthy OF commentator. and of hsna
cherished forever in the hearts of gr,tef%i
and generous people. Tue love of injenen.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution Of the human mind. Ii is slmost
the hrstsentlment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all tbc
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed into activity greater exertion of tbe
vlrtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of generation. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute 0.
genius has been paid TO The patriot or tbe he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained The independence and dignity q
mSn. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from h:
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements TO the impe.
rlshable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the illustrioLS patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, to The distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescripo
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, as long
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 coAfounded IN
he common and casual transaction OF Life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as wei
AS individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption 1t Ya vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue ii was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state o.
Brulus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the IIghto
posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merit, OF the flusfTl0S
dead with an eHectual or sterile admlralICn
Great and splendid actions will seldom %
achieved by men who have humble or of1I'
nary objects in prospect. 1t IS by contempt.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. Inc IToP"ie'
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsof ihemhit
tocIes; and Theseus, hearing the eIplOh;o'
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, ana o. De-
came the successful rival of his tame. ns
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs d.
round his hut the emblems OF his fathers Va
lour. ,u..,
More need not be said to enforce The Utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the PATRONAGE Oh ous
fellow citizens. with hope, that from .nr
Iiberality of their encouragement, we snaT
be able to present it to the public waFlny :,
their appreciation. We must depend ior Ins
illustration of many of the characters OF o,,
biog raphy, upon The generosity OF inelr sun
vIvng relatives and friends, to furnish Us WI,
VIVA tever interesting materials may be N Inen
possession for which, with our gratelus! az. ~
acknowledgements, we promise COPY u Wv
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be publiihed in numoesJS
half volumes of 200 pages, octave GU s~
contained in ten numbers. 10 me ion VI"
will be pre6xed an appropriate iron,n5
pieee-and the work will be commen 9Th
with the declaration of independence, a%d
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, ani
a compendious detail OF the proeeetdIhF'w
congress, during the passage, OF Inc :. Inn in.
Each OF the lives, unless when II y IKE.
practicable, will be preceded by he bsst
ness of the person, engraved by INC
artists 10 the United States. z,de
II. # will be printed on fine paper : mad
expressly for the purpose, ana a sa,'e,st
to subscribers at tsgO dollars : GaaI9'9'
pernumber, payable on delivery ,m,e
Z c,,b,cr;nt;ons RI ceiyed at TINS olpcS