Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-03
By JOHN SqyNDERSO.N,
TO THE PUBIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
when we consider the personal qualities
| OF the statesmen whose names are afiyed 10
| the Declaration OF Independence. the peri-
| lous occasion which demanded the eyertion
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and the
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
MANKIND, we must acknowledge that very
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 commemoration, 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-
stltutlon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the trst sentiment that anImates the infants
features In the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton of the
vlrtuous energies of his nature, none has eX-
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 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
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the impe-
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
he no favor Bile prognosic Of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the Industrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanlmlty, from the arbitrary dominion OF
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, 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 COMPOUNDED in
The common and casual transaction of life
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree OF
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
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
BTuus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the light OF
posterty," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits Of the illu>triouS
dead with an efectuaI or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordl-
nary objects in prospect. Ii by contempIa'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous OF
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps Of ThemiS..
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
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 Of his fathers va
lour.
Moe need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anc
which we now submit to the patronage oil our
fellow citizens, with hope, that from Inc
liberality OF their encouragement, we Shsii!
be able to present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend tor the
illustration OF many of the characters OF our
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish us witu
whatever interesting materials may he ~ ilieN
possession; for which, with Our grateful Sc
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of ''e
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be pubIiihed in nunbeFsoII
half volumes of 200 pages, octave anu
contained in ten numbers. To the hi''
will be prehxed an appropriate iron'Is
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration Of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES the signatures, anu;
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF The law
Each OF the lives, unless when it Is IN! 1n,'
practicable, will be preceded by IKE, /
ness of the person, engraved by The De''
artists in the United States. ).
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maat5
expressly for the purpose, and delIYelen
to subscribers at tao dollars and .tyty GEMS
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this once