Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-11
By JOHN S.q.NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal Qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are afypd n
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
! lous occasion which demanded the eyerton
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely 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 of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with he,frame and con.
stitutIon OF The human mind. 1t is almost
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the infants
features In the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of ran, none has
awaIed into activity greater exertion of the
Vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has eX-
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more lmperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance TO 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 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 jmpe.
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensiblity to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the lllustrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip.
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual f
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 benefactors will not be lost TO the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot s
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction OF life -
lngrattude is vice that in nations, as well (
as individuals, indicates the last degree OF I
degeneracy and corruption il is vice that (
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the 4
Seipos was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its posSessoT
The glory Of our ancestors is the light OF
posteriy," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the illustrlouS
dead with an etiectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or ord'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is BY contempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emI:.
nent qualities, that we become emUIous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies E
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lhemSI. /
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 bangs a.
round his hut the enbiems OF bis fathers va
lOur. .r
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage Oh ouE
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from 'nS
liberality of their encouragement, we snsI
be able to present il 10 the public woTlOy u
their appreciation. We must depend ior 'Dc
illustration OF many of the characters OF OUT
biography, upon the generosity OF ;bef SUI
vlying relatives and TRENDS, TO luTiii'h 10 ,o;,
whatever interesting materials may be ID tne,.
possession for which, with our gra'eui! a.. a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy u Wv
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in NUMBER va Vi
half volumes of 200 pages, octave S Sm1
contained in ten numbers. 10 me ntS'
will be prefxed an appropriate ITon. dJ
piece-and the work will be comneno;s,bb
with the declaration of independence, WIN WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures ano
compendious detail of the proceetdlDgfsswv
congress, during the passage OF lhe '?m
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is r In
practicable, ill be preceded by TAs
ness Of the person, engraved by the O'''
artists n the United States. 40
IL. It will be printed on fine paper, mad sred
expressly for the purpose, and d edl't,ss
to subscribers at tao dollars and yfy es'"
pernumber, payable on delivery 4ce