Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-18
By JOHN S.4WDERSON,
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ousl;tise
OF The statesmen whose names are affixed to
the Declaration OF independence. the ppri. /
lous occasion which demanded the eyertion
OF their wisdom and deiiberation, and tbe (
influence OF their councils on the interests oi
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeinp
cherished forever in the hearts of a era,efI
and generous people. The love of indepep. [
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
s~tltution 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
aWaSed MIC activity a greater e~xertIon Of the
Virtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth of veneratioD. and
has more !mperious 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 81
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. 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we W the
memory Of he illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, 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, their for
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long E
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts of 4
their successors, the example OF these gene.
rous benefactors will not be lost 10 the world; Z
their names will not pass way nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in +
he common and casual transaction OF life
| lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well g
| as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ; il is a 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 q
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory CT our ancestors is the llght0l
| pcsterity," and the homage of the living can.
| not be offered to the merits OF the lllustri0u8
dead with an ~etlectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or 0Idl'
| nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conlempIa'
| ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their enl.
| nent qualities, that we become emuIoUs Of
their virtues and their renown. l he trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of ! hemS. g
| tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and BE-
| came The successful rival of his fame. Inc
| rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs a.
| round his hut the embIems ofhis tathersH'
lour. , 81
More need not be said to enforce the utilFI
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage otou
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from ls
be able TO present it 10 the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend ioF Tue
illustration OF many of the characters OF ouf
biography, upon the generosity OF iher sui.
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIE
WudttftI IutclSstbS nldlciidiS" "J ~
possession for which, with our grateful AZ
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Oh u'
entire work as q compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of goo pages, octave snat
contained in ten numbers. TO the n'
will be prefixed an appropriate iIon.s
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
a compendious detail Of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage OF the '9"'
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t Is III
practicable, will be preceded by a INC
ness of the person, engraved by the o"'
artists in the United States. Il
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maoS
expressly for the purpose, and de!lVelsn
to subscribers at too dollars and tfyes""
pernumber, payable on delivery C..
~ subscriptions received at this Office