Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-07
By JOHN S.qJNDERSO,N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

10 The PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cu,Is.,
of the statesmen whose names are AFFIXED !.
the Declaration Of independence, the r.H.
lous occasion which demanded the eYert;o,
OF their wisdom and deiibcration. apdtbs
influence of their councils On the interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. VERY
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek h
vain III the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF CommemoratioR. and oihems
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful /
aud generous people. TIT. love of indeueu.
dcnce is interviewer with the, frame and con.
sttuion of the human mind. Il is alnnd
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all The
actions and enterprises Of man, none has
awaEed into activity greater exerion Of he
virtuous energies of his nature, none bas ey
cited greater warmth of generation, 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 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 imps
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor Bile prognostic of The perpetuy
of our republican institutions TO discoyaaa
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 dominionoi
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tioIe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tAeilioE.
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 10 he world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conloundedn
the common and casuaItransat ton Of llie,--.
lpgratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree OF
degeneracy and corruption il is a wee thai
implies the absence of every virtue; Il was
in the age of Calgula that the name Of ths
Scipios was prescribed, that the stale o.
Brutus brought death on its possessor.,
The glory of our ancestors is the Ilgn'a
posterity," and the homage OF The living eau
not be offered TO the merits OF the lllus'Ii01
dead with an efectua or sterile admirallG0
Great and splendid actions will seldonN
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or our
nary objects in prospect. II is BY contempt
ting the life and character OF those whoas
marked out from the multitude by then emf
nent qualities, that we become emuious
their virtues and their renown. The Iopma
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot lhenhff
tocles and Tbeseus, hearing the eIplo1's.u
Hercules, was fred with lis spirit, ano r Ss
came the successful rival of his fame, Ip'
rude savage of the desert listens with TaPIu'
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs +"
round his hut the embiens Of his tathers''
lOur. ,u,.
More need not be said TO enforce the uilI!
of the publicat ton we have undertaken a.,
which we now submit to the patronage olya
fellow citizens. with q hope, that IRON v
liherality of their encouragement, we %'l
be able to present it to the public woT'Dy!"
their appreciation. We must depend toI%
illustration OF many of the characters o! 'a
biography, upon the generosity o! theirss
wing relatives and friends, 10 furnish US wiz
whatever interesting materials may be nil y,
possession; for which, with our grateful i,
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. -
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. -
I. The work viii be publiihed nnumhehJj
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave e.
contained in ten numbers. TO tbe ~
will be prcfxed an appropriate Nona
pece-and the work will be conirbenSS
with the declaration of independence, vi
engraved fac SMILES Of the signature
a compendious detail of the procee,olDf,,,
congress, during the passage the w. Il.
Each OF the lives, unless zen II II,
practicable, will be preceded tya T h
ness of the person, engraved W 'bs
artists ia the Unit,t States. a,ts,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, n nsna
expressly for the purpose, and c Heh.'e,ss
to subscribers at tao dollars and JWly"'
pernumber, payable on delivery .so
~ Subscriptions received at this OIL
n n