Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-14
By JOHN S.4JvDERsO,N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,la;..
OF the statesmen whose names are aSysas
the Declaration of independence. the ~.
lous occasion which demanded the evo ftr
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and 4.
influence OF their councils on the Interest,
mankind, we must acknowledge that ve, "
rarely more imposing spectacle has hos,
offered to the world, and We shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator, and ofbenr
cherished forever in the hearts of gratsE1
and generous people. Th. love of indepsn.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and rm.
stitution of the human mind Il is almo,
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all be
actions and enterprises of man, none h.,
awaked into activity greater exertion oftbe
yirtuous energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneratiop. 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 he
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the impe.
risha5le records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favori ble prognostic Of the perpeuiy
OF our republican institutions to discover al
insensiblity to the obligations we owe The
memory OF the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from toe arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the irprescrip.
tole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge oil their pieoge OF their lives, therfoT.
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 nur be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be coniouDded in
the common and casual transaction Of life
lngratltude is vice that in nations, as well
IS individuals, indicates The last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption [; is rice that
implies the absence of every virtue il mas
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, That the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessOr.
a" The glory CT our ancestors is the ligbtCt
posterty," and the homage of the living Can.
not be offered to the merits of the illusrlOus
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men WHO have bundle or OrdI'
nary objects in prospect. II is By ccnlempIa'
cIor artn nj
marked out from the multitude by their emI::
nent qualities, that we become emucus o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
OF Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of lbenE.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explOlt:ol
Hercules, was fred with bis spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fare. 9be
ruGe savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q.
round his hut the mblems ofhis father'sya va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, AID
which we now submit to the patronage Of our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from TIE
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able TO present it to the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend for The
ILLUSTRATION oi many OF me Characters u W.
biography, upon the generosity Of their SUI
wiling relatives and friends, TO furnish Us WIN
whateYerlnteresting materials may be in .heF
possession for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF he
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihe d in numbers O,
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, sna
contained in ten numbers. TO The tis'
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work viii be commence
with the declaration Of independence, wllnn
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, and,
compendious detail OF the oceediDgs"
congress, during the passage CT the law
Each OF the lives, unless wien il is I'M
practicable, will be preceded ly IKE,
( ness of the person, engraved by The beA
artists in the United States. ;,
II. IT will be printed On fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and delivery
to subscribers at fwo dollars end tffyesa1
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this Once