Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-06
By JOHN s.qNDERSO.N.
TO THE ,PuBIIc

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualitsH
of the statesmen whose names are affixed h Z
the Declaration of independence, the peril
lous occasion which demanded the exertnuK
OF their wisdom and elaboration, andtl,E
influence Of their councils on the Interests O5
mankind, we must acknowledge that yeT E
rarely more imposing spectacle has been !
offered 10 the world, and we shall seek nh
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeire
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepep
dence is interviewer with the frame and con-
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almos (
the first sentiment that animates the infahttE
features in the cradle and amongst all h.E
actions and enterprises of man, none haI.
awaked into activity greater exertion ofA&'
virtuous energies Of his nature, none haseyI
cited greater warmth of veneration and:
has more imperious claims upon our grai{
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute oil
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and|
maintained the independence and dignity all
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from be|
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised ue, by their
magnanimty, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescnp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tbeIior'
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts G
their successors, the example of these gem
rous benefactors will not be lost to the WorldE
their names will not pass away nor be folgGE
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedRI
the common and casual transaction of life i
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as we'll
as individuals, indicates the last degree d|
degeneracy and corruption /; il is a vice thaI
implies the absence of every virtue il Wa
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the stale oil
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory OF cur ancestors is-the lightd
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illusirloI
dead with all effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or ordr
nary objectsin prospect. Itis by conempa
ting the life and character OF those who as
marked out from the multitude by their emt
nent qualities, that we become emulous OIL
their virtues and their renown. The tIophlH
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps of hemf
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explojt;d|
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and bel
came the successful rival of his fame IRl
ruGe savage OF the desert listens with raplurl
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs al
round his hut the cmblems ofh father'sw'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we, have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ofcar
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from tbss
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able represent it 10 the public worthy Oh
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration OF many of the characters of OUT
biography, upon the generosity of their SUI
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whateverinterestiDg materials may be in thef
possession for which, with our grateful ac'
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of the
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, ana
contained in ten numbers. To the BIS!
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, ana
compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage of the lsS'
Each OF the lives, unless when it is ln'
practicable, will be preceded by LIE
nessof the person, engraved by the be'1
artists in the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mao;
expressly for the purpose, and delivers
to subscribers at two dollars and tfycs'p
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ subscriptions received at this othcs'
October l8 Il