Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-29
By JOHN S4NDERS0N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal orGc,. |
OF the statesmen whose anne are af6yad |
the Declaration of independence. the rm
lous occasion which demanded the exert |
OF their wisdom and de!iberation. and NJ |
influence OF their councils on the Interests ! |
mankind, we must acknowledge la. yey
rarely a more imposing spectacle has beS5 !
offered to the world, and we shall seek / |
vain IN the annals or nations, for an event |
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbe~ |
cherished forever in the hearts of a grstei |
and generous people. Th. love of indeppr.
dence is interviewer with the frame and car.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is aIma
the hrst sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle !; and amongst all d.
actions and enterprises OF man. none h;
awaked into activity a greater exertiOn Ofls
rirtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our era,i
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pO!ilQI
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he.
70 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 IRON tie
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the imps.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuty
Of our republican institutions 10 discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe tie
memory Of The illustrioLs patrons Of America
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominiOnCI
a foreign power, to the distinguished eleYatDa
OF a sovereign and independent people tbty
have asserted and maintained the imprescTP.
tiole rights OF humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirfOE.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, asIOng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o..
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 coBlouDdedn
the common and casual transaction OF lie
ingrdtitude is a vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice ttl
implies the absence OF every virtue il vas
in the age Of Caligula that the nam OF TIE
Scipios was prescribed, that the state q
Brutus brought death on It's possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the hsatoI
posterity,' and the homage Of The living can
not be offered to the merits OF the l%I!usiTloD'
dead with an efectual or sterile admiraiCO'
Great and splendid actions will seldom te
achieved by men Who have humoIe or CG'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is By conlchf''
ting the life and character OF those whG as
marked out from the multitude Ey their col,
nent qualities, that we become cmuiou; O
their virtues and their rcnown. The tIoph,t'
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleepsot j benz
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eIpl0ll;@
Hercules, vas fred with lis spirit, and Se'
came the successful rival OF bis fame. JG
rude savage OF the desert listens with raPlUs
TO the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs J.
round bis hut the embiems OF bis tdtbersF''
louT. ,,
More need not be said 10 enforce the uiIH}
of the publication we have undertaken, al.
which we now submit TO The patronage Oh o..
feIlow-citizens, with a hope, that from NS
liberalitY of their encouragement, we SUI.
be able to present it 70 the public worm! /"
their appreciation. We must depend tot Is
illustration otmany Of the characters o! Cp
biography, upon the generosity OF iheIFs W
wing relatives and friends, 10 lu!nishGsEIs
whatever interesting materials may be IN iNa
possession fer which, with our grateful a. 4.
acknowledgements, we promise a COPY G! ~
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. TIE work will be publiihedinnunbsEJ
half volumes of geo pages, octaTo, =.
contained in ten numbers. 10 tie D..
will be ~prefXed an appropriate ronr
~piece-and the work will be conmtn,si
with the declaration of independence W.
engraved fac SMILES o fthe signatures, ~
a compendiou detailo of the proceedlE:sy
congress, during the passage ct lAe ~ n
Each OF the lives, unless when II Il nv ~
practicable, will be preceded by a p p,.
ness of the person, engraved ~ lhe ~
artists ia the United States. a,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, D'.
expressly for the purpose, and cell'an
to subscribers at tuO dollars ndWyS"
pernumber, payable on delivery a,s
~ Subscriptions received al this ONT 4
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