Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-30
b. JOHN SqNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaIts,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence, the per.
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and he
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event |
more worthy OF commemoration, and fleeing
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
s%titution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle /; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity a greater exertion OF the
virtuous energies Of his nature, none has eE.
cited a 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 to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic Of the perpetuiy
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
rpetnnrU nj f1a ii1rctrtOi c nofrppc nj Atnorin.n
freedom. They have raised US, by their
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
ola 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, tbeirfor.
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 benefactors will not be lost to 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 well
as 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 Caligula 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 lightot
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illustrlous
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ordi'
nary objects in prospect. Ii is BY contempla.
fipn tho lfa ND olo, :, ofar nj thnco yhn are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Thems;;
tocles /; and Theseus, hearing the eIploitsd
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage, CT the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems ofhis fatber'sVa'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage Of ouf
fellow citizens. with hope, that from Tue
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present il to the public worthy Ot
their appreciation. We must depend for tue
illustration OF many Of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon the generosity of their sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US win
whateyermteresting materials may lie in theI;
possession for which, with our grateful af'
acknowledgements, We promise a copy OF the
entire y ork as 4 compensation.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be publiihcd in nunbenG
half volumes of goo pages, octave, sps
contained in ten numbers. To the tIf
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts,
piece->nd the work will be commences
with the declaration of independence, win
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, an,
a compendiousdetail of The proceedings"
congress, during the passage ct the law,
Each OF the lives, unless when il is ln'
practicable, will be preceded by a lie.
nessof the person, engraved by the bsH
artists in the United States. :.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and Delivers
10 subscribers at tao dollnrs and GyoTH
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions re ceived at this othee'