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

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaI;t;o,
OF the statesmen whose names are afiyad ~
the Declaration of independence, the nsr;.
lous occasion which demanded the evert;on
OF their wisdom and deliberaton and ~"
influence OF their councils on the Interests -
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely more imposing Spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek j.,
vain IN the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemorative. and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people The love Of indepen-
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stItuton 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 man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertion the
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has ex-
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 ibe patriot or the he
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 10 the mpe.
rishabIe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no tayoribe prognostc Of the perpetuity
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-
tioe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, theirtoT-
tunes and their sacred honors y and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their successors, the example OF these gene
rous beHefactorS will not be lost to the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten or their glorious deeds be ContOundedn
the common and casual transaction OF life -
hgratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption {; il is vice thai
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
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
C The glory of our ancestors is the light0
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illustrlous
dead with an ehectual 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 ContempIa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emuIous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps OF lbemls..
toeles; and Fheseus, hearing the exploits OIL
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and BE-
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 ofhIs fathers va
lOuT.
More need moi be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that iron 'ng
liberality of their encouragement, we shaIi
be able to present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend tor The
illustration OF many of the characters OF ouE
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur !,t
vving relatives and friends, to furnish US Wl!n
whatever interesting materials may ne IN IneI'
possession for which, with our grateiu. se'
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of Tue
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nunbers0ii
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, s s,t
contained in ten numbers. To the biS
will be preGxed an appropriate irohl,5
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, wiz.
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures avn
a compendious detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF Inc ~
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t IS IN. ,n
practicable, will be preceded by HA ne
ness of the person, engraved by Inc p'''
artists in the United States. A
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ma rnd
expressly for the purpose, and no a sd,'eeal,
pernumber, payable on delivery a.o
~ Subscriptions received at this ohce'