Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-03
By JOHN .S.4.NDERSON
TO THE, PI7RJJr

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,l;t,.
OF the statesmen whose names are ad;yoo ~
the Declaration OF independence, fine n,r;
lous occasion which demanded the ever,;on
OF their wisdom and deliberatjon and tba
influence OF their councils on the Interests %
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek i,
vain IN the annals of nations for an oyont
more worthy OF commentator, 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.
stltutlon OF the human mind II is almost
the hrst sentiment that snlmales the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaked INTO activity greater eXertion of the
virluous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneraton. 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 ne
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 impe-
rlshable records OF fame. II would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuy
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibIlity to the obligations We owe the
memory of the iIlustrioLs 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, theirtor-
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 benef2ctors will not be los, to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be contoUndedln
he common and casual transaction of life
!ngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
IS individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue it waS
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
:" The glory of our ancestors is the lighto
postelity," and tie homags Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illusrTou'
dead with an eiteCtuai or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or Ordl-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempla-
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emuous Of
their virtues and their renowB. The trophies
of Miltiades interrGned the sleeps OF ThemlS,
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame The
rude savage of the desert listens with raptuTa
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the emblems of his fathers va
lour
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to The patronage OF ou
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from The
iiberaIity of their encouragement we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy d
taeir Appreciation We must depend TOR tbs
illustration of many of the characters OF ouf
biography, upon the generosity Of their sur IT.
vlyng relatives and friends, to furnish US WHO
whatever interesting materials may be IN theH
possession for which, with our grateful ac'
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF 'p'
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be published innumbersoj;
half volumes of goo pages, octave, anu
contained in ten numbers. To the nis'
will be prefxed an appropriate fTon'IsIi
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIFE
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, anu
a compendious detail of the proeeedIDgsoi
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when it IS ill'
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by the De''
artists in the United States. ),
IL. It will be printed on fine paper. mace
expressly for the purpose, and de!IveIe1
to subscribers at two dollars and JVty ee"'
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this ONCE