Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-25
By JOHN S4NDERSON.
TO TILE PuRIIc

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal omaha.
OF the statesmen whose names are afiyed :
the Declaration of independence. the nsi
lous occasion which demanded the eye,,;a.
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Il,
influence OF their councils on the Interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yery
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbein,
cherished forever in the hearts of a prafeiI
and generous people. The love of inJeppr.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Il is aJm0,
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all II.
actions and enterprises of man, none b,,
awaked into activity a greater %exertion oftbs
yirluous energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth" of yeneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poIitIc.l
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to The patriot o.. 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 bis features IRON tie
grasp OF death, and the pen OF the List0Hin
has inscribed the achievements to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor,ble prognostic of tie perpetuly
Of our republican institutions 70 discover 40
i~nsensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory of The illustriots patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a loreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theiTfI.
tunes and their sacred honors - and, aslong
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their SUCCESSORS, the example of these gene.
rous beneiactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be cOnfOundedn
the common aad casual transaction Of HE
lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice thai
implies the absence Of every virtue It was
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF tbe
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
BrutuS brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the lghto
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the l~l!ustn0Vs
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men WHO have humble or oId'
nary objects in prospect. II is by c%on'empa'
ting the life and character OF those whoa
marked out from the multitude by Their enl,
nent qualities, that we become enulouS o.
their virtues and their reDown. The tIoPdH'
of Miltiades interrupted The sleepsot I IeDF
%tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1ploI;o
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and O.
came the successful rival of his fame. le
rude savage of The desert listens with raPlaF
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs q
round his hut the emblens OF his tdtherS'a
lour. 49,,
More need not be said to enforce The udiI
Of the publication we have undertaken, sD1
which we o submit TO the patronage Oh GU
feIIow-citizens. with a hope, that from Ug
liDGfdiItS VI ttlSJI encouragement
be able to present it to the public WORTHY"
their appreciation. We must depend tor us
illustration Of many of the characters Of GU
biography, upon the generosity OF ;helFs%
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us WV
whateyerlnteresting materials may be IN luz.
possession for which, with our grateful .
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of w
entire york as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be p%ubIiibed in nunbesy
half volumes of goo pages, acta,o' e
contained in ten numbers 10 the ".
will be prehxed an appropriate lToh@
piece-and the work will be commerce
with the declaration of independence, VIZ
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures ~
a compendiou. detail of the proceedlH,sr .
congress, during the passage OF the IN n
Each OF the lives, unless Wien II IL
practicable, will be preceded ~ a mns
ness ofthe person, engraved by ibe >
artists in the United States. ,A
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, DC,
expressly for the purpose, and de.n.
to subscribers at too dollars dadJyw"
pernunber, payable or delivery mo-
~ Subscriptions received at this ONT
nctohar u !