Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-06
By JOHN S.4NDERSOy
TO THE PUBTJC

10 THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,I;,;o.
of the statesmen whose names are ,ti; r@d''ss
the Declaration OF independence, the no,s
lous occasion which demanded the eve ri,.
oil their wisdom and deliberation and tGa
influence OF their councils on the interest. %
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
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 Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of graefff
and generous people. The love of iaJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
sttution of the human mind II is almos,
the first sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none ba,
awa6ed into activity greater exerion Of the
vlrtuouS energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of generation. and
has more lmperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Q.
genius has been paid TO the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignityol
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from the
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements TO the impe.
rshable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor 'bie prognoStic OF the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensiblIity to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the illusroLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
naenanmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a 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, theirior-
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 nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confOundedln
The common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ; ii is a vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF the.
Sciplos was prescribed, that the state OF
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" The glory Of our ancestors is the lighto
posterity," and the homage of the living can,
not be offered TO the merits of the ilIustrlous
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions vii! seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oFd-
nary objects in prospect. 1t IS by con'empIa'
ting the life and character OF those VINO are
marked out from the multitude by their emil
nent qualities, that we become emulouS Oh
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltades interrupted the seepso hemiSI-
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits OIL
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, ana I oe-
came the successful rival OF his fame Inc
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a"
round his hut the emblems OF his fathers va
lour
More need not be said to enforce the Utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens, with a hope, that from me
lberality of their encouragement, we shaIi
be able TO present il to the public woftny u
tDelr appTODdllOD. we HuSt de PS'N
OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur,
vving relatives and friends, to furnish us WIN
interesting materials may be IN IheE
for which, with our grateiu! &c;
we promise copy OF 'H'
entire ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in numbers o.
half volumes of 200 pages, octayo' s sng
contained in ten numbers. 10 'ne lis'
will be prefxed an appropriate lron'sS
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures aDyf
compendiou: detail of the proceedlDgsvU
congress, during the passage OF inc 'G ;u,'
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t IS ,; Iu1
practicable, will be preceded BY 'i re-
ness of the person, engraved by Inc O''
artists 10 the United States. ao
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper MAJ
expressly for the purpose, a nad a Svesn.s
pernumber, payable on delivery oe %
~ Subscriptions received at this OH e. 81