Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-19
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ L TIE PUbLl(.
When we consider the personal oualits.
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence, the ppri.
lous occasion which demanded the eyer;On
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge that yery
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 commemorative, and ofbeinp
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of inJepeD.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Il is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises OF man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton OF til.
virtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited a greater warmth of veneratioD, and
has more imperious claims upon our grati.|
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In al! republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or the be.
ro 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 imEs-
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be 10 favorable prognostic Of the perpemiy
Of our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensiblity TO the obligations we owe the
memory OF Inc lilustrioLs patrons of American
Fl eedom. They have raised US, By their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the impIescrip.
liole rights Of humanity by the "muual
pledge oil their pledge OF their lives, theirior-
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, as IoDg|
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts oil
their Successors, the example Of these gene.
rous benefactors will not be lost 10 the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be coniounded IN
the common aad casual transaction Of he -
lngratilude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last deglee Of
degenerscy and corruption f; il is vice that
implies the absence Of every viltue II was
in the age of Caligula that the name Of lhe
SCipioS was prescribed, that the state o.
Brutus brought death on its possessOr. /
+" The glory of our ancestors is The llghl Oh
posterity," and the homage OF the living car
not be offered 10 the merits of the iIIusirOIH
dead with an efectuai OF sterile admIratCn'
Great and splendid actions will seldom te
achieved by men VITO have hum Die or oldi'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conenpIa'
ting the life and character Of those aho are
marked out tron the multitude by Their chi,
nent qualities, that we become enulOm o.
their virtue. and their renown. I he tropics
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot lttnE.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explCisci
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, AID es'
came the successful rival OF his fame. lte
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs So
round his hut the embIems Of his fdthersR'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utllT]
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which We low submit TO The patronage Of GU
fellow citizens. with a hope, chat from lDs
liberality of their encouragement, we sD'p
be able to present it to the public WORTHY
their appreciation. We must depend ioE:ns
Illustration OF many of the characters Of a
biography, upon the generosity of ,helraart
vIying relatives and friends, TO furnish US WV
whateverlnteresting materials may be lnlDs.
possession for which, with our graeI I.
acknowledgements, we promise copy @I'
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be pubIiihed in numbehJj
half volumes OF eco pages, octave o. o.
contained in ten numbers. 70 the ""
will be prefxed an appropriate lfonsd
piece-and The work will be comn'fnS
with the declsrstion of Independently
engraved lac SMILES oflhe signatures, Nv
a compendious detail of the proeteol'SE.:rr
congress, during the passage OF me ~; a..
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS ,E 10
practicable, Will be preceded by ~ ~.
ness Of the person, engraved by Inc =
artists in the United States. ...ie[
II. It will be printed on fine paper, .nl" ,
expressly for the purpose, and d EN- s,sy
to subscribers al tao dollars andJy'y"
pernunber, payable on delivery .s,e
y ~ Subscriptions re geived al tbIs oA