Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-01
By JOHN S.4NDERSOjr
TO THE pI1RJJC

10 THE PUBLIC
w hen we consider the personal ouaIit..
OF the statesmen whose names are ,Hxnd t's %
the Declaration OF independence. the ner;'
lous occasion which demanded the eyert;o,,
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and ,Sn
influence OF their councils on the interesf. ~
mankind, we must acknowledge that verT
rarely more imposing spectacle has bea??,
ohered 10 the world, and we shall seek in
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoraton, and Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love Of injenen.
dence is interviewer with the,frame and con.
stItullon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the frst sentiment that anlmaes The infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises CT man, none has
aWaEed INTO activity greater exertion of the
ylrtuous 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 r.
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 ard breathing
marble have rescued his features from The
grasp OF death, and the pen Of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 tie impe.
rishabe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions 10 discover al,
insensibiIity to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the ilustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescHp-
tioIe 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 o!
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 contoundedi in
The common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il wa;
in the age Of Caligula that the name Of The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
1.-The glory Of our ancestors is the lightoi
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered TO the merits Of the illustriOus
dead with an etfectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ordl-
nary objects in prospect. IL is By con'empIa'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil,
nent qualities, that we become emulOus Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltades Interrupted the sleeps Of Ihems..
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits
Hercules, was fired 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 othiS fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to The patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from The
liberality of their encouragement, we SHAH
be able TO present it to the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many Of the characters OF ouF
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
vwing relatives and friends, to furnish US WITH
whateverinteresting materials may be in theE
possession for which, with our gratefu! acl
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF tS
entire " oIk as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in nunbeTg5
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, anu
contained in ten numbers. To the DE-
will be prefxed an appropriate frons,;
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration Of independence, WI'!g
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, aHplE
a compendious detail Of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the ia"'
Each Of the lives, unless when 1t is ~. NV
practicable, will be preceded by IKE,
ness of the person, engraved by The Des'
artists 10 the United States. !.
II. It will be printed on fine paper, n'auSJ
expressly for the purpose, and delivers.
to subscribers at tao dollars and Jytyse'"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this once
0otobar ~ u