Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-17
By JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider The personal ou,l;,;..
OF the statesmen whose names are afiysd =
the Declaration OF independence. the nor;
lOus occasion which demanded the eysrt;os
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and Gr
influence or their councils on the Interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yer,
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered TO the world, and we shall seek i
vain IN the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy oil commemoraton, and of bem.
cherished forever in the hearts of a erafeHS
and generous people. The love of inJeDen,
denes is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stltutlOn OF The human mind. Ii is aInos
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all ths
actions and enterprises of man, none h.
aHaked into activity greater exertion Of th.
vlrtuous energies of his nature, none has e.
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more imperious claims upon our grsIi.
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 be-
TO who has promoted the cause oil liberty and
maintained the independence ard dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from the
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the inps,
rishabIe records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ,ble prognostic of The perpetuiy
OF our republican institutions to discover az
insensbility to the obligations we owe The
memory Of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
aioreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and Independent people; ttey
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the "mutua
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theriOr
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as lOnt
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts q
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactcrs will not be lost to the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedh
the common and casual transaction of life
ingratitude is vice that in nations, as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree 81
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il wal.
in the age o! Caligula that the name of he
Scipios was prescribed, that The state oil
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
8 The glory OF Our ancestors is the lightd
posterity," and the homage of The living can
not De offered to tie merits of the iIIuStriOE
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom te
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or old.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out frUm the multitude by Their eni.
nent qualities, that we become emuICus O
their virtues and their reuown. The tropics
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF 1'hfnis.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1pIohsd
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and h'
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listens with Rapture
to the deeds OF his ancestors, and hangs"
round his hut the embIems ofhis fathelsn
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the Utility
of the publication we haze undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ofcI
fellow citizens. with hope, that from DE-
liberality of their encouragement, We shg
be able to present it to the public woItbyd
their appreciation. We must depend Tor lh
illustration OF many of the characters Of gu
biography, upon The generosity of ;heTMrr
vlving relatives and friends, TO furnish US vito
whatever interesting materials may be inthf
possession for which, with our gratefuIs"
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of iAS
entire v crk as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publijhe d in numbers
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, sps
contained in ten numbers. TO The bE'
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts;
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, ar
sompendious detail of the ProceedirS'"
congress, during the passage OF The lss,
Each OF the lives, unless VIXEN il /; lp
practicable, will be preceded by a IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the w.
artists in the United States. i,
II. It will be printed on fine paper, nssi
expressly for the purpose, and dtll'e. .r
to subscribers at fzso dollars ndJVtyoN'
ernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this oh.tt'