Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-27
By JOHN S.qNDERSOE
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ LIE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal nu,,;
of the statesmen whose names are aSva5s
the Declaration of independence. tho ~.
lous occasion which demanded tba e,. pst /
OF their wisdom and deIberatjon V sns%
influence OF their councils on the intsr qaa ae
mankind, we must acknowledge that
rarely more imposing spectacle has bs.,
offered to the world, and we shall ssoI
vain in the annals of nations, for an t ays",
more worthy of commemoratiop, and ofbs;..
cherished forever in the hearts of ar,s5i
and generous people. The love of indsn..
dence is interviewer with the. frame and ~,
stitution OF the human mipd. Il is alma
the hrst sentiment that aninates the infanf,
features in the cradle and amongst ali Il,
actions and enterprises of man. none Eu
awaked into activity greater exertioD Of 4,
yirtuous energies ofhE nature. none has ~
cited greater warmth of veneratiop, an
has more imperious claims upon our graf
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and polite,
aggression.
n all republican states the FIRST tribut, d
genius has been paid to The patriot or The b.
70 who has promoted the cause OF lbertysd
maintained the independence and digrfy d
man. The animated canvas and bresing
marble have rescued his features from lbe
grasp OF death, and the pen OF the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the jnp,.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indees
be no favorable Drognostic of the perpanir
of our republican institutions TO discoYsrss
insensibility TO the obligations We owe ns
memory of the illustrioLs patrons Of America,
freedom. They have raised us, by thsh
magnanimity, rom the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people tbev
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theiriOE.
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as loDs
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 confoundedm
the common and casua transaction OF life
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
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 Iighid
posterity," and the homage Of The living can.
not be offered TO the merits of the ilIustTiUa
dead with an efectual or sterile admratiOa'
Great and splendid actions will seldom Be
achieved by men wEo have hum Die or Olt'
nary objects in prospect. Ii is Ey contempt
ting The life and character of those WbOa7
marked out from the multitude BY their ert
nent qualities, that we become emuIOus q
their virtues and their renown. The trOPhE
Of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of TheHr.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eIploh:t
Hercules, was fred with lis spirit, and b
came the successful rival of his fame. IL
rude savage of The desert listens with rsptrr
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs
round his hut the emblems OF bis fathersU
lour.
More need not be said 10 enforce the uaf
Of the publication we have undertaken, al
which We now submit to the patronage Otti
fellow citizens. with hope, that from "
iberality Of their encouragement, we 3d.
be able to present it to the public WORTHY
their approbatSn. We must depend forlF
illustration OF many of the characters Of o.
biography, upon the generosity Of thef'n
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish usFI.
whatever interesting materials may be inlle
possession for which, with our grateful y
Acknowledgements, We promise copy O. @
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed numbers
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, y
contained in ten numbers. TO tbe o.
will be prcixed an appropriate ircnIg
pisce--and the woIk will be comneIo
with the declaration of independence, Sp
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures,a
a compendiou. detail of the prOceedlg..
congress, during the passage of The !.
Each OF the lives, unless when II sL
practicable, will be preceded by US
ness of the person, engraved BY Inc l"
artists 10 the United States. al
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper, o.,
expressly for the purpose, and cel'"Sy
to subscribers at tao dollars and Vg"
pernumber, payable on delivery g..