Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-16
By JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PTRIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualitie,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration of independence, the ppri.
lous occasion which demanded the exertoD
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and III.
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
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. II is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle g.; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaked into activity greater exertion OF the
vIrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more lmperlous 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 q.
| Iildil. 4 HC dllilldlcu CANVAS anu breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, aud the pen of the historian
| has inscribed the achievements to the impe-
rishable records Of fame. II would indeed
be no favor Bile prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
i1sensibiity TO the obligations We owe the
memory OF tae ilustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion 0;
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrt.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for.
! tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long
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 COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction OF life
| lpgratituds is vice that in nations, as wei +
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
| implies the absence of every virtue ii was Z
in the age of Calgula that the name OF the &
| Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of a
Brutus brought death on its possessOT.
+" The glory of our ancestors is the light o. (
! posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the iIIustIIou' 5
dead with an ehectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be s
achieved by men who have humble or oTdl-
| nary objects in prospect. 1t is by CeniempIa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their eml.
nent qualities, that we become emuIous OF I
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
ofMiltades interrupted the sleeps OF 1hcmls-
| tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. ] he
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture .
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embiems ofhis tathersVa'
| lour. ,
More need not be said to enforce the utility
| of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage OF our &
fellow citizens. with hope that from lns
| liberality of their encouragement, we shdI;
| be able 10 present it TO the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend Tor Tue 4
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon the generosity OF their SUI,
vlving relatives and friends, TO turnIsh Us W."
whatever interesting materials may BE 10 . iD..-
possession for which, with our grateful a.,
acknowledgements, We promise copy o. "'
! entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
l. The work will be pubIiihed innum0eS ~ y,
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave 6 sl,S
contained in ten numbers. 10 me W.,
will be pre6xed an appropriate Hon.s5
piece--and the work will be conmeD'sL
with the declaration of independence WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, an"i
a compendious detail of the proceeGdIng9ssrU'
congress, during the passage OF The 10"
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is r Im
practicable, will be preceded by IN M,
ness of the person, engraved by The Os''
artists in the United States. 40
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, .mrai
expressly for the purpose, and delivers els,,
70 subscribers at t7co dollars and tfty C""'
pernumber, payable on delivery ~
~ Subscriptions received at tins ONCE