Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-06
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ousIiGs,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n |
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the eyertim |
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and d,
influence of their councils on the interests d
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. vey
rarely a 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 commemoration, and ofbeiDg
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. TIL. love of injepep. |
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants |
features in the cradle !; and amongst all the |
actions and enterprises of man, none has |
awaEed into activity a greater eXertiOn Of the |
v%irtuous energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute d
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF 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 to the impe.
rishable records oil fame. X would indeed
be no favor ible p%rognostic of the perpetuiy
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory of tae illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by Their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominionc
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people thy
have asserted and maintained the impresuV.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, tbert0r.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, aslOng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o.
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedlp
the common and casual transaction of life
Iugratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue ; il was
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
"Ihe glory of our ancestors is the lIghtOi
posterity," and the homage of the living Can
not be offered to the merits of the I~llusirioU'
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Dc
achieved by men who have humble or olG'
nary objects in prospect. II is by confenPlS'
ting the life and character OF those whoa at
marked. out from the multitude by their enli;
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. The tIoPho
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleeps OF l henhi
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploIsu
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, aHd De-
came the successful rival of his fame. Inc
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a
round his hut the emblems O. his fdthersN'
lour. ,,.
More need not be said to enforce the utlIY
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit TO the patronage oil GU
ellow-citizens. with hope, that from W.
liberality of their encouragement, we sDdu
be able 10 present it to the public wortnyu
tneIT dpPIODdtiOu. we WuSt uepSh" 80,
illustration OF many of the characters o. Oal
biography, upon the generosity of ;heIrsGGlI
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US W..
whatever lnteresting materials may be IN iusn
possession for which, with our grateful .. ..
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of Nv
entire ork as a compensation.
D =,
/. The work will be publiihed in numbers,
half volumes of 200 pages, octave fr.t
contained in ten numbers. 10 the W..
will be prefxed an appropriate iTonn
piece-and the work will be commtnc.GS
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, ano
a compendious detail Of the proceedIbss~
congress, during the passage OF the '; ;m.
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is ILL., -
practicable, will be preceded by a I'M has
ness of the person, engraved by lie W.
artists in the United States. .Aa
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mSsdd
expressly for the purpose, and delne 'se
TO subscribers at too dollars andWtyte'
p%ernumber, payable on delivery s,s
~ subscriptions received at this ONE
0ctoher n