Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-11
By JOHN S.aJNDERSoN.
I TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,|a;.
of the statesmen whose names are afbrpSs
the Declarationof independence. tbe !, rsS
lous occasion which demanded the eYe rt,s
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Is
influence Of their councils on the interest, i
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. VEN
rarely more imposing spectacle has be,s
offered to the world, and we shall seek i
vain in the annals of nations, for an eyen
more worthy OF commentator, and ofhw
cherished forever in the hearts of pralela
and generous people. The love Of iIdepep
dence is interviewer with the. frame andcoa
stitufion of the human mind. 1t is alma |
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all ID.
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertioaofth
virtuous energies OF his nature, none hasel.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our gnd.
tude, than resistance to tyranny and poh0eal
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of |
genius has been paid to The patriot or hek.
70 who has promoted the cause OF libery and |
maintained the independence and dignity d
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from Il.
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imE
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor able prognostic of the perpetuty
of our republican institutions to discoserin
insensibility to the obligations we owe tie
memory Of the illustrious patrons of Ameri,A
freedom. They have raised US, by then
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominiouo
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; tkl
have asserted and maintained the imprescip.
tiole rights of humanity by the ''mDtll
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, thehfr
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, aslOng
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 coDioundedH
the common and casual transaction OF lie,
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as weI!
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice lbal
implies the absence of every virtue i wal
in the age of Caligula that the name OF hs
Scipios was prescribed, that the state o.
Brutus brought death on its possessor. /,
!" The glory of our ancestors is the llgn'os
posterity,'' and the homage Of the living can.
not be offered tothe merits OF the llus'lio1
dead with an effectual or sterile admlrallGan
Great and splendid actions will seldon9M
achieved by men who have hum Die or orgr
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conlenps y,
ting the life and character OF those Wnoas
marked out from the multitude by theT cum
nent qualities, that we become emul0us v
their virtues and their renown. The tToPpia
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot he :l. \
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1plolits ~
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, aD0 a ~
came the successful rival of his fame y.
rude savage OF the desert listens With rapu,'
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs :
round bis hut the embIems ofhis fathers"
lour. IA,
More need not be said to enforce the us'II5
ofth publication re have undertaken, ,a.,
which we now submit to the patronage 0l w.
fellow citizens. with hope, that from .1 vi
Iiberality of their encouragement, we sD'JI
be able TO present it to the public woTloy ~ y
their appropriations. We must depend 'of Wv W,
illustration OF many Of the characters o. ~, wv
biography, upon the generosity OF thell s ~
wing relatives and friends, to furnish asn,
whatever interesting materials may be ~ ips A.
possession for which, With our grale'us' N 4,
acknowledgements, we promise copy q v
entire work as compensation.
* CONDITIONS. ~
K. The work will be publiihed innurnpels..st
half volumesof 200 pages, octave, g. 4
contained in ten numbers. TO tae y. II
will be prefzed an appropriate ng sr,l
piece-andt the work will be ccrlmen l.s|
with the declaration ofindependeDce, s ~
engraved fac,simises ofthe signatures ,s q,
ccmpendiou, detail OF the procteeeallp'fI,,n
congress, during the passage OF .ps y. N
Each OF the lives, unless when y = h
practicable, will be preceded W 10 Ie
ness of the person, engraved BY NV
artists in the United States. n.d
III. 1t will be printed on hBe paPssliI ;sers
expressly for the purpose, ana J G ssanesss
to subscribers at two aottar; anaJy's'2
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Octoberi8 --~ &