Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-21
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ HE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal uualifa
of the statesmen whose names are affixed I
the Declaration of independence. the peI.
lous occasion which demanded the eyerm
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and6E
influence of their councils on the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ven f
rarely more imposing spectacle has ben
offered to the world, and we shall seek
vain in the annals of nations, for an even
more worthy OF commemoration, and fbept
cherished forever in the hearts of graIsjb
and generous people. The love of indepsh
dence is interviewer with the. frame and CO..
stitution of the human mind. Ii is alnts
the first senti1ent that anImates the inislts
features in tbgcraGle +; and amongst all b
actions and enterprises of man, none b.
awaked into activity greater exertiond a (
virtuous energies of his nature, none has
cited greater warmth of veneration, sht
has more imperous claims upon our grbK
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and polta
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributd
genius has been paid to The patriot or tbek.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty AL
maintained the independence and digniyaE
man. The animated canvas and brealhIg 4
marble have rescued his features from ihs
grasp of death, and the pen of the histOIil
has inscribed the achievements to t., mN
rishable records OF fame. 1t Wou,u indee
be ne favor able prognostic of the perpetuit
of our republican institutions to discoyera
insensiblity to the obligations we owe til
memory OF tae illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by &el /
msgnanimity, from the arbitrary dominicng
foreign power, to the distinguished eleystid
of a sovereign andindependent people hg /
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp |
tioie rights of humanity by the "mupl
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, therm
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, aslog
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts,
their successors, the example OF these gen 3
rous benefactors will moi be lost to the won! Z
their names will not pass away nor be lOss
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedl :
the common and casual transaction Of LIE
lngratitude is vice that in nations, asVeI
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption il is avce tEl
implies the absence of every virtue ii wi
in the age of Caligula that the name OF lk
SCipios was prescribed, that the state
Bru,us brought death on its possessor
Z" The glory of our ancestors is the lighis
posterity," and the homage of the living tir
not be offered to the merits of the illustrOa
dead with an effectuaI or sterile admiratoa
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
achieved by men who have hum Die or Ol1F
nary objects in prospect. II is BY contempt
ting the life and chsra cter OF those who az
marked out from the multitude by their B,
nent qualities, that we become emuIOu;.
their virtues and their renown. The tToElN
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps Of Them
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and q
came the successful rival of his fame. lr
rude savage of the desert listens with rapl@
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs
round his hut the emblems of his fatbersH /
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the uiaI}
of the publication we have undertaken, 'm
which we now submit 20 the patronage Olea
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from ", y;
liberality of their encouragement, we aD
be able 10 present it 10 the public worthy %
their appreciation. We must depend for U
illustration of many of the characters Of 0.
biography, upon The generosity o! ;beHsg%
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US w. !,
whateverlnteresting materials may be ln iAp
possession /; for which, with our grateful ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy oil Nv
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS. :,
l. The work will be publiihed in numbers,
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, "a T.,
contained in ten numbers. TO the w. ",
will be prefxed an appropriate bonJI
piece-and the work will be ctTmtnes,SI
with the declaration of independence, WV wv
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, az
compendious detail of the proceedIpgsss'
congress, during the passage OF the ~; -.
Each Of the lives, unless when it IS w, ~
practicable, will be preceded by I hsd
ness of the person, engraved by ibe ~
artists in the United States. A,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m I'si
expressly for the purpose, and dell 't,st,
to subscribers at tho dollars and tffye'"
pernumber, payable on delivery r..
~ subscriptions re csived at this o"tf'
October Is