Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-03
By JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

" / he 4 ODLlL.
Wren we consider the personal ouaiss,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed :
the Declaration of independence. fine No,
lous occasion which demanded The eyero,
OF their wisdom and deliberation. andIs
influence OF their councils on the Interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge ma, ysv
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee,
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeis
cherished forever in the hearts of graefi
and generous people. Th. love of ndepeD.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that anmates the infant,
features i'll the cradle and amongst all II.
actions and enterprises OF man, none Ia,
awaked into activity greater exertion ofhs
virtuous energies Of his sature, none has ex.
cited a greater warmth OF yeneration, 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 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 The
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO The inpe.
rishabIe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor lbie prognostic of the perpetuiy
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibiIity TO the obligations we owe the
ga
freedom. They have raised us, by Gei;
magnanimity from the arbitrary dominoHo
foreign power, to The distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrp.
tioe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge of their lives, theEiog.
tunes and their sacred honors - and, aslOng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts 0.
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 contOundediG
the common AID casual transaction OF life
lpgratitude is a vice tia; in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
10 the age of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state OF
Bru,us brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the Lighter
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered TO The merits OF The lustnea'
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Re
achieved by men who have hum Die or Grd''
nary objects in prospect. 1t sby coniemPla'
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from tie multitude by Their ell.
nent qualities, that we become emuIous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of MiItiades interrupted the sleeps OF lheml:,
tocies and Theseus, hearing the exploits
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, and De-
came the successful rival of his fame. lbe
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
TO the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embIems ofhis fathers Va.
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the util'{
of the pubica ton we have undertaken, 'nu
which We now submit to the patronage oioGr
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lps
Iiberality Of their encouragement, we shaii
be able 10 present il to the public WORTHY o.
their appreciation. We must depend tor le
Illustration OF many OF the characters OF OUT
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heIr SUI VI
wing relatives and friends, TO furnish US TIn
whatever interesting materials may be in lheH
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF IS
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed in numbers o
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, IN.
contained III ten numbers. To The d..
viii be prefxed an appropriate iiobllIl
piece-and the work will be comment!ts5
with the declaration of independence, WIZ
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, sry
a compendiou: detail of the proceedIngsr
congress, during the passage OF The law
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is p'
practicable, will be preceded ly I, ,,,
ness Of the person, engraved by lie p'''
artists in the United States. i.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ns.5
expressly for the purpose, and deliver s,,
to subscribers at t7so dollars oadJViye""
pernumber, payable on delivery a..
*x* Subscriptions re ceived 81 this oHee'