Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-24
By JOHN S4NDERSOy
TO THE PURIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
when we consider the personal oualit;o,
OF the statesmen whose names are .fSrna :.
the Declaration OF independence tbe ner;,
Ious occasion which demanded the exor,;an
OF their wisdom and deliberstion and tHa
influence OF their councils on the pterest. '~ 10
marKind, we must acknowledge that yerv
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 commemoralion, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stitutlon 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
aWaGed into activity greater exertion of the
Vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth Of veneration and
has more lmperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute 0,
genius has been paid 10 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 OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostc of the perpeuity
of our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory OF the iIIustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfo
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 coHfounded IN
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
and corruption il is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caigula 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 illustrious
lead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Ireat and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Ole or ordi-
1ary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempla-
ing the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
heir virtues and their renown. The trophies
If Mitiades interrupted the sleeps of 1 hemis.
ocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
uGe savage OF the desert listens with rapture
o the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
'ound his hut the embems Of his fathers va
our.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
IF the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage Of our
elbow citizens, with hope, that iroR The
iberaity of their encouragement, we shall
De abls to present it to the public worthy 0!
heir appreciation. We must depend for the
Illustration OF many of the characters OF our
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
living relatives and friends, to furnish US wlb
whatever interesting materials may be in then
possession for which, with our grateful az
we promise copy OF the
.n,ire W ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
!. The work will be publiiked in numbers o.
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, ana
contained in ten numbers. To the bns
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, win
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, ana
a compendious detail Of the proceedlpgsoi
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when it is M
practicable, will be preceded by Ike.
ness of the person, engraved by the be''
artists in the United States.
|. 1t will be printed on fine paper, made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at tao dollars and tJtycea@
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis office
October 10 II