Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-13
By JOHV S4NDERSON,
TO THE PIIRIIr


When we consider the personal ou,M.,
OF The statesmen whose names are ahyed t :
the, Declaration of Independence the NJ, y
lous occasion which demanded the ero rflr
OF their wisdom and delberatiop and tSa
influence OF their councils on the ipterss,. ~ ~
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has hoy hoy
offered to the world, and we shall saoI !,
vain in the snnaIs of nations, for an sven,
more worthy OF commentator, and olbejm
cherished forever in the hearts of grstefs
and generous people. The love Of inIjepen,
dence is interviewer with the.trame and CON
stitulion Of the human mind. Il i, ,lmoy
the first sentiment that anImates the infant,
features in the cradle ; and amongst ali III.
actions and enterprises of man, none h.,
awaked into activity greater e1ertion of N,
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has er.
cited greater warmth of generation. and
has more lmperious claims upon our graf.
tude, than resistance to tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributec.
genius has been paid 10 the patriot or the Be.
TO who has promoted the cause of liberty an!
maintained the independence and dignity Q.
man. The animated canvas and breathg
marble have rescued bis features from he
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the histolnn
has inscribed the achievements to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. II would INDEED
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpetuly
Of our republican institutions TO discover az
insensibility 10 the obligations re owe the
memory Of The illustriols patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, By their
magnanimty, from the arbitrary dominion @,
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrir.
tiole rights Of humanity by the "mutu,!
pledge of their pledge of their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, aSloy
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Q.
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost TO the word Z
their names will not pass away nor be foIgot 5
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoundedn s
the common and casual transaction OF lie
lngratitude is a vice that in na00ns, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption 1t is vice aA
implies the absence of every virtue II Es
in the age of CaiiguIa that the name OF ne
Scipios was prescribed, that the state
Brutus brought death on its possessoT. :, 8
=" The glory of our ancestors IS the igH"
terity," and the homage Of the living can.
not be offered to the merits OF the Illus'isN
dead with an effectual or sterile admTalNn.
Great and splendid actions will seldom Ge
achieved BY men who have humble or 0lIl'
nary objects in prospect. 1t IS BY c0nlenFs,
ting the life and character OF those who arc
marked out from the multitude BY thelr eur
nent qualities, that we become eInaIoui y,
their virtues and their rcnown. ne e, IIpput.'
of Miltades interrupted the sleepsoi heaI
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1Pl0l'iiU'
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, aho T W.
came The successful rival OF his lame lpe
rude savage of the desert listens WIN lap.u,1
to the deeds of bis ancestors. and Dab5'
round his hut the embems OF his tatheFS'a
lour ,u;.l
More need not be said to enforce the u1lIs
Of the publication we have undertaken, a"
which we now submit TO the patronage oi " "
fellow citizens. with hope, mat lfo1H ~
liberaity of their encouragement, we SUD
be able to present it TO the public W9ifl e.. Il
their approbation. We must depend LOT Ii
illustration OF many of the characters \, o. -. y.
biography, upon The generosity OF ihelF 81, ~
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us w.
whatever interesting materials may be ~ iD :,
possession; for which, with our gra.elus. Il
acknowledgements, we promise copy u
entire ok as compensation.
CONDITIONS. ,,n
I. The work will be pubIiihed IN numosn nd
half volumes Of 200 pages, Gc'ato' fst
contained in ten numbers o 'I for,..
will be prefxed an appropriate lIO ord
piece-and the work will be commend IT'D
with the declaration of independence, nd
engraved fac SMILES of the slgnalu[tes ne, Of
compendiou; detail Of the prof;ee .Sa bm, /
congress, during the passage OF ,nt :. in. /
Each OF the lives, unless when i . Ike.
practicable, will be preceded oy 10 be:, !
ness of the person, engraved y '"'
artists 10 the United States. o- made
II. # will be printed on fine paper r'l; %
expressly for the purpose, ana q ssa"esat|
to subscribers at tao dollars ana JVfy'"
pernumber, payable on dslI,e cry. oHi cs.