Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-23
By JOHN S.4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal or,rc
of the statesmen whose names are akyoSsa
the Declaration of independence. tLs ~.
lous occasion which demanded the exe rto,
OF their wisdom and deliberatioD and ~.
influence Of their councils on the Interests ~ ~
mankind, we must acknowledge TIA, ve,r
rarely more imposing spectacle has bes!,
offered to the world, and we shall seeE =
vain in the annals of nations, for an even,
more worthy OF commentator, and ofbsna
cherished forever in the hearts of gratpfSf
and generous people. TIL. love of i6denen
dence is interviewer with the, frame aDdem.
sttution of the human mind. 1t is almn,,
the first sentiment that anmates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst ali bs
actions and enterprises OF man, none b.,
awaEed into activity greater exertion ofNs
vrtuous energies of his nature, none has py.
cited greater warmth of yeneratjoD ana
has more imperious claims upon our erah.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poiitcs
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 he
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 BILE prognostic of The perpetuitr
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility 10 the obligations we owe The
memory OF the illustrious patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by tbeir
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and Independents people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tinle rights of humanity by the ''mutua!
pledge OF their pied ge 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 benefactcrs will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be contounded in
the common and casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption q; il is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that The name Of the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brulus brought death on its possessor.
=" The glory of our ancestors is the lighOF
posterity," and the homage of The living can.
not be offered to the merits of the illustrlOu;
dead with an etfectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum5l or Ordi.
nary objects in prospect. II By coniempb.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
their virtues and their renown. I he trophies
Of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Ihemr.
tocles and Theseus, hearing The expOitsd
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fame. TIE
rude savage OF the desert listens with raptua
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs g.
round his hut the emb!ems ofhis fdther'sn'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, aIt
which We now submit TO The patronage ofcur
fellow citizens, with hope, that from lhs
liberality of their encouragement, We shah
be able TO present it to the public worthy o.
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration Of many of the characters Of orT
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heirsm'
v,ving relatives and friends, to furnish US viii
whatever interesting materials may be in then
possession for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF 'as
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiiheG inEumbeEG;
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, sp
contained in ten numbers. To The hs
will be prehsed an appropriate ironli,
piece--and the work VIII be commence
with the declaration of independence, T'17
engraved fac Smiles ofihe signatures, sD1,
Gompendious detail of the proeeedDgs@
congress, during the passage OF The lsS
Each OF the lives, unless when il is I'D
practicable, will be preceded hy IKE
ness Of the person, engraved by The is'
artists in the United States. ).
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper. rao5i
expressly for the purpose, and cell7eltn.
to subscribers at f7vo dollars Gnd. fttyetr8
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received al tins ONCE
0cfokor 10 II