Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-24
By JOHN S.4NDERSO,N
TO THE PUBIC

TO THE PUBLIC
"hen we consider the personal ousIitie.
OF the statesmen whose names are AFFIXED N
the Declaration of Independence. the ner;,
lous occasion which demanded the eyert;or
OF their wisdom and deiberaton. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests n
MANKIND, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has beeo
offered to the world, and we shall seek IN
VAIN in the annals Of nations. for an event
more worthy OF commemoration. and FLEEING
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
ana generous people. The love of iDdepen.
dence IS interviewer with the. frame and CON.
sttution Of the human mind. II is almost
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the infant:
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none ba,
awaSed into activity a greater exertion of The
ylrtuous energies OF his nature, none has eE.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more lmperious 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.
TO 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-
risbabie records OF fame. : would indeed
be no favor bile prosnostic OF the perpeuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibIlity TO the obligations we owe tie
memory OF the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
msgnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip-
tioe rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor-
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.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conlounded in
the common and casual transaction OF life -
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice ths
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age Of Caligula that the name Of the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state 0!
Brulus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the bghtOi
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits Of the ilIustrIouj
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
achieved by men who have humble or OTdI-
nary objects in prospect. Il is by contemla-
ting the life and character Of those who are
marked out from the multitude by Their eml..
nent qualities, that ne become emuIouS o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF ITEMS,
toces and Theseus, bearing the exploits Oh
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. Ibe
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 patronage OF ow
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'Hs
liberaity of their encouragement, we shSI
be able to present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend TOR lIt
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish Us wa,
whatever interesting materialsmay be ID ,nsn
possession for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy O -,
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiiAed inDOp0en%5
half volumes Of goo pages, octave s a..
contained in ten numbers. To the We
will be pre6xed an appropriate iToawd
piece-and the work will be commeno;sSS,
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fas SMILES of the signatures sp'f
a compendious detail of the proeeedIDgsv~
congress, during the passage OF the 'G~'
Each OF the lives, vuless when 1t IS rh w.
practicable, will be preceded by IN
ness of the person, engraved BY Inc D''
artists in the United States. 40
II. It will be printed on fine paper, . lnsSdf
expressly for the purpose, and deiN t'sts
to subscribers at tsso dollars and ytyc0"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this oihtI'
~ q