Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-12
By JOHN .S4.NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cuaIs..
OF the statesmen whose names are a&yeSs''
the Declaration of independence the nsS
lous occasion which demanded the eye ft,
OF their wisdom and deliberatiop and NV
influence OF their councils on the Interests -
mankind, we must acknowledge that vs,"
rarely more imposing spectacle has bar,
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an even,
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbem,
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. TIA. love of i1densr'
dence is interviewer with the. frame and rom
stitution of the human mind. II is almo,,
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all Ne
actions anu enterprises of man, none h.,
awased into activity a greater exertion Of The
virtuouS energies Of his nature, none has eY.
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
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
TO 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 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame Il would indeed
be no favor able prognostic of the perpeuily
OF our republican institutions to discover an
10 ha pbl a.
memory OF tae illuslrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominionot
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the iuipresc,ip.
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theirtor.
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 beneiactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
the common and casual transaction Of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates The last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name Of TIE
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" The glory OF our ancestors is the lightol
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the ilustrlcu'
dead with an ehectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ortI'
nary objects in prospect. II is by contenpI''
ting the life and character Of those whoafe
marked out from the multitude by their EN-:
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Thenk::
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explol:d
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and le'
came the successful rival of his fame. lhs
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems of his tdthersVa'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit TO the patronage our
fellow. citizens. with hope, that from ins
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration OF many of the characters Of ort
biography, upon The generosity Of theirsui,'
wing relatives and friends, 10 furnish US WIN
whatever interesting materials may be in theN
possession; for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF TOE
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed innumbeT' q
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, sna
contained in ten numbers. To the or"
will be pre6xed an appropriate fronts
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, all,
a compehdious detail of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il IS inr
practicable, will be preceded by IKE,
ness ofthe person, engraved by The pe
artists in the United States. J,
II. 1t will b printed On fine paper, mao u
expressly for the purpose, and deliver.
to subscribers at tUo dollars and tftyef''
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this ONCE
October Is II