Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-25
By JOHN S4NDERSON
TO THE PITRITC

l
When we consider the person.I ,,,,,;...
of the statesmen whose names are a$yod i'' =
the Declaration of Independence tbe NJ. -
lous occasion which demanded the exsrtion
OF their wisdom and deliberaton, and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has hesn
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
! and generous people The love of indenen-
dence IS interviewer with the. frame and con-
| stitutlon OF the human mind. 1t is limos,
| the hrst sentiment that anmates the infanre
| features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed INTO activity greater exerton Of The
VIrtuouS energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneratop, and
has more lmperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid TO The patriot or the he
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. Ihe animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from The
grasp OF death, aud 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 10 discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the ilustrols patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanmlty, from the arbitrary dominion of
foreign power to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
uole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor-
tunes and their sacred honors :" end, 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 contounded in
the common and casual transaction of life
lngrattude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree OF
degeneracy and corruption il is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory OF our ancestors is the light OF
posterity," and the homage Of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the ilustTiOuS
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
acheved,by men who have hum Die or Ordi'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by Contempla-
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
.nent qualities, that We become emuouS oil
their virtues and their renown The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Themis.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with 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, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems of his fathers va
louF.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow. citizens, with hope, that from llle
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy Oi
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters OF our
biography, upon The generosity Of their sur
vIving relatives and friends, TO furnish US win
whatever interesting materials may be in thes
possession; for which, with our grateful aci
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF the
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed numbers o,
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, ana
contained in ten numbers. To the FRS!
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commenced
a. &c; I'D
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, ana
comnendiou. detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when it is Inl'
practicable, will be preceded by IISe-
ness of the person, engraved by the pe'
artists in the United States. !,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper. mace
expressly for the purpose, and dellVeIeu
to subscribers al t1po dollars and JtJtyceas
pernumber, payable on delivery
Cnhccrintions received AT this Office.