Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-04
By JOHN S.4NDERSON
TO TIE L.

10 le1E PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou.I;,;o.
OF the statesmen whose names are af;~nd -
the Declaration OF Independence. tLe nor
lous occasion which demanded tho eyer ran
OF their wisdom and deIiberation snd ,ba
influence OF their councils on the interests nt
mankind, we must acknowledge tbat vow
rarely a more imposing spectacle has hee3
onered 10 the world, and we shall seek in
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemorative. and ofbeino
cherished forever in the hearts of a pratpGn1l
and generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stltutIon OF The human mind. Ii is aImo:,
the first sentiment that anlmales the ipfant,c
features in the cradle !; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed INTO activity a greater e~xertion of the
VIrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited a greater warmth of yeneration. 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.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity CT
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 to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorlble prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility 10 the obligations we owe the
memory of the ilIustrioLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
atoreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of a 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, their for
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 benet2ctors will not be lost 10 the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction OF life -
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as wei
az individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ii is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue 1t was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state OF
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
"1'he glory of our ancestors is the lightol
postcrity," and the homage Of the living Can.
not be offered to the merits OF the i~llustriouS
dead with an efectuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
achieved by men who have humble or ordl-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by coniempIa'
ting the life and character n those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emi:
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
their virtues and their renown The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Themls;
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the embiems of his tathersVa'
lOur. 49,
More need not be said TO enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage OF ouf
fellow citizens. with a hope, that irons 'bs
liberality of their encouragement, we shaIi
be able TO present it to the public worthy o.
their appreciation. We nust depend for lhe
illustration OF many Of the characters OF Ou'
biography, upon The generosity OF their SUI.
vlying relatives and friends, to furnish US WIN
whatever interesting materialsmay he in theN
possession for which, with our grateful ac.
acknowledgements, we promise a copy oil u'
entire work as q compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in number'a
half volumes of goo pages, octave, spa
contained in ten numbers. 10 the d."
will be prefxed an appropriate tronlsI
piece-and the work will be commenesL
with the declaration of independence, WpI
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
a compendious detail of the proeeedIngsO'
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives. unless when 1t is im
practicable, will be preceded by a IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the De''
artists 10 the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper mad
expressly for the purpose, and deliFelyGS
to subscribers at tu,o dollars dWtyes""
pernumber, payable on delivery e.o
~ subscriptions received at this olHtS'
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