Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-29
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBI.Ic

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaI;t;os
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration OF independence. the npr;,
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,;on
OF their wisdom and deiberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests n
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 even,
more worthy OF commemoration and of being
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 almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle /; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed INTO activity greater eXerlion of the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft
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-
rishabe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor BILE prosnostic of the perpetuily
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensbility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the ilustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion o!
foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp-
tiole rights of humanity by the "mutua!
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts CT
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 conioundedln
the common and casua transaction OF life
ingratitude is vice that in nations, as well
az individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age Of Caljgula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity,' and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the ilustrlous
dead with an effectuai or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have bumole or ordl-
nary objects in prospect Ii is by centempIa'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emuouSS o.
their virtues and their enown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF hemE.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Oh
Hercules, was fired with his spirit and be-
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 but the emblems ofhis 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 oaf
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'l S
liberality of their encouragement, we shaI
be able to present it TO the public worthy u
their appreciation We must depend tor lls
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon the generosity OF ;heFs9tt
viving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIZ.
whatever interesting materials may be IN In s
possession for which, with our grateful az ~.
acknowledgements, we promise copy u wv
entire work as compensation
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiiAed innunOern%5
half volumes of 200 pages, octave S Sn
contained in ten numbers. 10 tpe We
will be prefxed an appropriate hou|d
piece--and the work will be cominene;t,b
with the declaration of independence, WV, n5
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, 1Aof
compendious detail of the proeeed'hssw'
congress, during the passage OF me '?m
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is 1; ;n'
practicable, will be preceded by 'i Ia.
ness of the person, engraved b. the u"
artists in the United States. 40
II. II will be printed on fine paper, MAJ
expressly for the purpose, and d sa.arfs
to subscribers at tro dollars ondJyly'''"
pernumber, payable on delivery ere
~ Subscriptions received at this once