Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-05
BIZ JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal uualis,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence, the per
Ious occasion which demanded the eYertiOn
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and tbs
influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, 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 commemoration, and ofbeing
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution 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
awaked into activity greater exerton Of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneraton, 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 be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity
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.
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor Bile prognostic of the perpeuily
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory of The illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominionO
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the iniprescHp
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge of their pledge OF their lives, tLeir6r.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, aslong
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 confoundedn
The common and casual transaction oil HE.
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thal
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 light Oh
posterity," and the homage Of theliviDg can
not be offered TO the merits of the lliusfToT
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble OF orG'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their enI::
nent qualities, that we become emuouss. o.
their virtues and their renown. The tIoPnls
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF hemfif
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits"
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and Se.
came the successful rival of his fame. le
rude savage OF the desert listens with TapVuIe
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs D.
round his hut the embIems ofhis father'sVa
lour. .,,.
More need not be said to enforce the uiliy
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage OF o o..
fellow citizens. with hope, that from IN
libeTality of their encouragement, we sn'T
be able TO present if to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor u.
illustration OF many of the characters o! o.
biography, upon the generosity of their sur "
viving relatives and friends, to furnish US wiz
whateverlnteresting materials may be ~ iisn
possession; for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF Nv
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. :,
|. The work will be publiihed innunbeiss%5
half volumes of 900 pages, octave, e els
contained in ten numbers. TO the Dc.
will be pre6xed an appropriate iroD'aJ
piece-and the work will be commerce.
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES OF the signatures, aDO
a ccmpendious detail of the procedure
congress, during the passage OF the H a.
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t IS ,h 10
practicable, will be preceded by a I M.
ness ofthe person, engraved by 'he "
artists in the United States. 10,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, IN. ms 90
expressly for the purpose, and deilvs 'ss
to subscribers at two dolior, and Jyty ee''
pernumber, payable on delivery H..
= ~ Subscriptions received at TINS ob'.t'
: October 10 y