Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-19
By JOHN S.4.NDERSOy
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ llfE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,I;,;,.
OF the statesmen whose names are sHvoJ -
the Declaration of independence tbe nsr "
lous occasion which demanded the eys r.r
OF their wisdom and deIberation. and ,ba
influence of their councils on the interost. ~
mankind, we must acknowledge that vsrv
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee,n
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator, and ofbeipg
cherished forever in The hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of iajepen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution Of the human mind. Ii is aImoet
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none mas
awaked into activity greater exertion of the
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of generation and
has more imperious claims upon our grst
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.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
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-
rishable records oil fame. Ii would indeed
be no tavorlble prognostic of the perpetuiy
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibiity to the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustroLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanmity, from the arbitrary dominion OF
atoreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people, they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, theirfoT-
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 contoundedn
ihs common and casual transaction OF LIE =
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption 1t is vice thal
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF He:
Scipios was prescribed, that the state OF
Bruus brought death on its possessor., ;, i
$ The glory of our ancestors IS The lgMOl
posterity." and the homage of the living can 5
not be offered to the merits OF the lIluS'riOu' :
dead with an effectua or sterile admiration /
Great and splendid actions will seldom 5e
achieved by men who have hum Die or OTal-
nary objects in prospect. II is by con'enps.
ting the life and character OF those who arg
marked out from the multitude by their emil
nent qualities, that we becomt emulouS VI
their virtues and their reDoWn. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Items
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the e1plolls"
Hercules, was fred with bis spirit, ara ne Ss.
came the successful rival of his fame, / DC
rude savage OF The desert listens with rap'u!S
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q
round his hut the emblems OF his lathers'a
lour. ,u.,
More need not be said to enforce the utllI91
of the publication We have undertaken sn
which we now submit to the patronage OF ou
fellow citizens. with hope, that from w
liberality of their encouragement, we sn'I
DC dUie ~ pIeSeLt u W Ah1 PN, ',b
their appreciation. We'mustt depend ioT W
illustration OF many of the characters Of o.
biography, upon The generosity OF 'helr sG
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US W.
whatever interesting materials may be n Ins
possession; for which, with our gra'elu.! ~ ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of Tx
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numDel Nd
half volumes of goo pages, octave s s
contained in ten numbers. 10 tle G
will be pre6xed an appropriate hon.ld
piece-and the work will be commen nth
with the declaration of independence, a ND
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, o. suJi
compendious detail of the procee,dnS..wy
congress, during the passage OF the N IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when IL y rIp.
practicable, will be preceded by T hs.,
ness of the person, engraved by Inc ~
artists in the United States. ,.de
III. It will be printed on fine paper, m"d
expressly for the purpose, and d en' .,nh
to subscribers at tsyo dollars dndJyfys'"'
pernumber, payable on delivery cry, of6e