Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-30
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERC0E.
TO THE P{IRIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaIis
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence, the pei.
lous occasion which demanded the eyernr
OF their wisdom and deliberaton, and
influence Of their councils on the Interests ii
mankind, we must acknowledge tha, yely
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 ofbeinJ
cherished forever in the hearts of graeil
and generous people. Th. love of indepen!
dence is interviewer with the frame and con !
stituion of the human mind. 1t is amOsI
the first sentiment that animates the infantJ
features in tbs cradle and amongst all he|
actions and enterprises OF man, none has|
awaked into activity greater exertion of the|
vrtuous energies of his nature, none has Ell
cited greater warmth of generation, sDd|
has more imperious claims upon our gHi1
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pOlhcaE
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute ID
genius has been paid to The patriot or the be-
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity a
man. The animated canvas and breathing
| marble have rescued his features from lad
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
| has inscribed the achievements to the inpeI
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
| be no favor BILE prognostic of The perpetuilT|
of our republican institutions to discover 10
insensibility to the obligations we owe tLe|
| wemory Of the illustrious patrons of Amercsl|
I f. hp fhatrN
magna!.imity. from the arbitrary dominion oil
| foreign 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, tbeniN'
tunes and their sa cred 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 .be world
! their names will net pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedm
the common and casual transaction OF life -
; .ngratitude is vice ;hat in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree 81
degeneracy and corruption il is vice tia
implies tie absence of every virtue; il va!
in tie age of Cal;guIa that the name OF ths
SCipios was prescribed, thai the state oil
Bruus brought death on lis possessor
The glory OF our ancestors is the ightr
posterity," and the homage of The living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustTlOG
| dead with an efiectual or sterile admTatCI
Great and splendid actions will seldom q
! achieved by men WHO have hum Die or OG.
nary OBJ acts in prospect. 1t is BY contempt
ting the lie and character OF those WhO sF
marked OCT from the multitude by Their ent|
nent qualities, that we become e!ruIous 4
theirvirtues and theirlenoHn. The tropIie
of hliltiades interrupted the sleeps OF I hlns
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1ploC
Hercules, vas fred with his spirit, aDd tt
came the successful rival OF IBIS fame lh
rude savage OF the desert listens With IaFUN
to the deeds of his ancestors. ard hangs a
round his hut the cmb!ems ofhis iatheI'sH
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utIIy
of Toe publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage Of og'
fellow citizens. with hope, that Ircm tts,
liberality OF their encouragement, we shall
! be able to present it to the public woItLy d
their appreciation. We must depend for lDs
illustration OF many of the characters OF ouf
biography, upon The generosity Of their so;'
wing relatives and friends, to furnish us wit:
whateverlnlerestingm materials may be in then
! possession; for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF lD'
entire " DIRK as A compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbcrs';
| half volumes Of goo pages, octave, NV
! contained in ten numbers. To the NJ
will be prefXed an appropriate fion'Fi
piece-and the work will be comntnt.tla
with the declaration of independence, WITT
engraved fac Smiles oflbe signatures, SF1
compendiou, detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF The Ia"
! Each OF the lives, unless wien il IS 1n'
practicable, will be preceded by IKE,
ness Of the person, engraved by the Dc:'
artists in the United States. IN
Ii. 1t will be printed On fire paper; mSe ID
eXpressl y for the purpose, and Gfl''e. e..
to subscribers al too dollars ard Jy'y e''''
pernumber, payable on delivery A.,
~ Subscriptions re ceived at tins ONCE