Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-24
By JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC

~ HE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal op.ue,
of the statesmen whose names are afEysSss
the Declaration of independence. the nss
lous occasion which demanded tho sF
OF their wisdom and deIiberationA and ~
influence of their councils on the intere.t. u
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ver
rarely a more imposing spectacle has bs.,
offered to the world, and we shall seeE !,
vain i'll the annals of nations, for an er,,t
0 worthy OF commemoration. and ofIsSa.
cherished forever in the hearts of a gr,tsiff
aud generous people. Tb. love of indensS
dence is interviewer with the, frame and ron
stitution of the human mind. Il is almm
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the infant, :
features in the cradle !; and amongst ali Il,
actions and enterprises of man, none h..
awaked into activity a greater ~exertion of ls
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of yeneratiop, ami
has more imperious claims upon our ersj.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to The patriot orlhe he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from Tie
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor able prognostic Of the perpetuiJ 1
of our republican institutions to discover, an
insensibiIity to the obligations we owe ts
memory of tae illustrious patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanlmlty, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a toreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and independent people tby
have asserted and maintained the inppsQip. |
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tbeIfor.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, almg
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
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 cOnfoundedn
the common and casual transaction Of life |
lugratitude is a vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
~degeneracy and corruption il is vice tEsl
implies the absence of every virtue il vas
in the age Of Caligula that the name Of The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state d
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the llghtc
posterity," and the homage of The living can
not be offered to.the merits OF the ~illuStTlOS
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom y
achieved by men who have humble or oG'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those whoa
marked out from the multitude by their eHl
nent qualities, that we become emulCu; D
their virtues and their renown. The tropDh
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF / btHf
tocles !; and Theseus, hearing the e1plCllia
Hercules, was fred with bis spirit, and "
came the successful rival of his fame. IE
rude savage of the desert listens with raP'u'
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs q
round his hut the emblems ofhis fdtherSN
lour. ,
More need not be said to enforce the u;NHg
of the publication we have undertaken, aa
which we now submit TO the patronage olya
tellow-citizens. with hope, that from %
liberality of their encouragement, We sa5
be able to present it TO the public WORTHY
their appreciation. We must depend ior%
illustration OF many CT the characters Of @
biography, upon the generosity OF ;helr'%
yiving relatives and friends, to furnish US y
whatever undressing materials may be IN zoe.
possession /; for which, with our grateful
acknowledgements, we promise a copy o. "
entire work as a compensation.
CONDITIONS. Il
L. The work will be puLliihed in number
half volumes of 200 pages, octave
contained in ten numbers. 10 lhe ~
will be prefxed an appropriate hon.s
piece-and the work will be commtI%
with the declaration of independence, W.
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures
a %compendious detail efthe proceedfEns
congress, during the passage OF ne ~ n
Each OF the lives, unless when II u rls
practicable, will be preceded byd "a ID
ness of the person, engraved ty Ie
artists in the United States. n.a |
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m
expressly for the purpose, ana Ce n,t al
to subscribers at tuo dollars dndlYy"
pernumber, payable on delivery a.,
~ Subscriptions re ceived at tins oNt
October Ia