Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-14
By JOIN. S.4.NDERSO.y
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the Personal cr,Gf,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed i
the Declaration OF Independence, the peT
lous occasion which demanded the exertio,
OF their wisdom and deliberation. andSs
influence oil their councils on the Interests n .
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee,
offered to the world, and we shall seen !,
vain in the annals Of nations, for an even
more worthy OF commemoration, and OF bene
cherished forever in the hearts of eraten
and generous people. Th. love of indeper.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con-
stitution Of the human mind. 1t is sInoaE
the hrst sentiment that animates the iniant,E
features in the cradle and amongst all de /
actions and enterprises of man, none hB
awaEed into activity greater exertion Of ths l
virtuous energies his nature, none has e..
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more imperious claims upon our gIst,
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and polite
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribut, Q!
genius has been paid to The patriot or the be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity al
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from ll.
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imp,.
rishab)e records OF fame. Ii would indsse3|
be no favor lble prognostic of the perpeteig
of our republican institutions to discover al
insensibility to the obligations We owe The
memory of The illustrioUs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by tben
magnanimity, from the arbitrary domncnd|
foreign power, to the distinguished eIeyatiC,|
OF sovereign and Independents people ths|
have asserted and maintained the imprescrh.
tiole rights of humanity by the "muiu,
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives. thehia.
tunes and their sacred honors - and, as
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts II
their successors, the example Of these gen,
rous benefactors will not DE lost 10 the word;
their names will not pass away nor be forge.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundedhI
the common and casual transaction oflt.-
lngratitude is vice that in Da;ions, as we'll
as individuals, indicates the last degree al
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice th.
implies the absence of every virtue il wi|
in the age of CaliguIa that the name Of Tbs
Scipios was prescribed, that The state al
Brutus brought death en- lis possessor.
" The glory OF our ancestors is the lightd|
posterity," and the homage OF The living car
not be offered to the merits of the iliusyics
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Il
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or ODD
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by centemPb
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their en-.
.nent qualities, that we become emulcus d
their virtues and their renewn. The tlorhs
ofMiltiades interrupted the sleeps Of htmi
tocles and Theseus, hearing the expl0hd
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and tt
came the successful rival of his fame. Tie
rude savage OF The desert listens with Rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs
round his hut the embiems ofhis fathersw
lour.
Mere need not be said to enforce tie Utility
Of the publication We have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage Ofog
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from b:
liberality Of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it 10 the public worlIyd
their appreciation. We must depend for lbc
illustration OF many of the characters Of GU
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heirsuIr'
yising relatives and friends, to furnish US wli
whatever interesting materials may be nthei'
possession fer which, with our grateful st'
Acknowledgements. We promise copy CT ~
entire DIRK as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nunbeEGi
half volumes OF eco pages. octave, .ra
contained in ten numbers. To tbe tls
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
Piece-and he work viii be commence
with the declaration of independence, viii
engraved fec simiIes ofthe signatures, all,
Gompcndiou; detail of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage OF The l:N'
Each OF the lives, unless when il is M
practicable, will be preceded by IKE.
ness of the person, engraved by The be
artist. 10 the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and deliTeIeu !
to subscribers at tro dollars and Ifyee'N
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this Once