Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-17
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal auaEt;o.
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 tbs
influence OF their councils on the interests of
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 commemoraton, and Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stltution Of the human mind 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWa6ed INTO activity greater exertiOn of the
ylrtuous energies OF his nature, none has e1
cited greater warmth of veneraton. 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 be.
no 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 oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuty
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of the ilustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
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
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirfor-
tunes and their sacred honors y and, as long
as virtue holds , ar 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 confoundedR
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as we'd
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption it is a 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
Bruus brought death on its possessor. !
" The glory of Or ancestors is the IighIol
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illusrloHs
dead with an effectua or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die OF ordI'
nary objects in prospect. Ii is BY cenempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their eml:.
nent qualities, that we become cmuIouS Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Niltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Tkemlsi,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploit; o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and pc
came the successful rival of his fame. Inc
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems of his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the Utility
of The publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronaseo' ou
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'ps
liberality of their encouragement, we sll'5i
be able to present it to the public worihy@
their appreciation. We must depend tor lns
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon The generosity OF their SUI lt
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us wl;s
whatever interesting materials may be N Hen
possession for which, with our grateil.i -
acknowledgements, we promise COPY 0! "'
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nun per-
half volumes of eco pages, octave f ea
contained in ten numbers. 10 he w.,
will be prehxed an appropriate lIcn"Id
piece-and the work will be oommen'sb
with the declaration of independence, NJ" "J
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures s'f
compendious detail of the proeeedHfssw
congress, during the passage OF the '?m
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t Is , ir
practicable, will be preceded by p hs,t
ness Of the person, engraved by 'he ~
artists in the United States. 40
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, me .sd
expressly for the purpose, and deii' t,st;
to subscribers at tao dollars GndJyly ''"
pernumber, payable on delivery a,e
*x* Subscriptions received at THIS ONT u
nctohar t2 u