Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-15
By JOHN S.4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ HE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ou,la,,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed -
the Declaration of independence. the nsT
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,;o.
of their wisdom and deliberation. and Ia
influence OF their councils on the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has bss5
offered to the world, and we shall seek IN
vain IN the annals of nations, for an even,
more worthy OF commemorative, and heinz
cherished forever in the hearts of grate6l
and generous people. tn. love of ibdepeu'
dence is interviewer with the, frame and ron.
sttution Of the human mind. 1t is almoa
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 exerionofhe
vrtuous energies of his nature, none has ey
cited greater warmth of generation. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the FIRST tribute 81
genius has been paid to the patriot OF he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity o!
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features IRON The
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO The imp..
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuly
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibllity to the obligations We owe the
memory OF the ilustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by THEN
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirtoE
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Ok
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deed: be COMPOUNDED in
the common and Casual transaction OF life -
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree OF
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caigula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its poSsessoT.
6 The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illu.trOus
dead with an efectua or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or OlGI'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conemPIa
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude ~ their chi.
nent qualities, that we become enulou;; 0!
their virtues and their renown. Ihetophl@
of NIiltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lheHl',,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explCIs@
Hercules, was fired With lis spirit, and De-
came the successful rival of his fare lDe
rude savage OF The desert listens with raPT''
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the emblem ms OF bis fdthers"'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce The uihTy
of the publication we have undertaken, s~
which we now. submit to the patronage O. ON
fellow citizens. with hope, that from ~, Iis
liberality of their encouragement, we sO't
be able TO present it to the public WORTHY o.
their appreciation We must depend tor uS
illustration Of many of the characters o. Gu
biography, upon the generosity Of tbeIfsu:It.
viving relatives and friends, to furnish US WV
whateverlnteresting materials may be ID lnt %.
possession for which, with our grateful a. q.
Acknowledgements, we promise copy oil !"
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS. !.
l. The work will be publiihed in numbers u
half volumes Of zoo pages, octave, s a,
contained in ten numbers. To the biS
will be prefxed an appropriate lFon,rj
piece--and the work VIII be ccmmen'.SS
with Inc declaration of independence. WIZ
engraved tacsimiles fthe signatures aY
a compendious detail of the ploceedIigsvv
congress, during the passage Of ne l5 ."
Each OF the lives, unless VIXEN II Is , ~
practicable, will be preceded by G t's
ness of The person, engraved by the :.
artists in the United States. 81
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ln ",,
expressly for the purpose, and ce!ft ,ss
to subscribers at two dollars md 3tyeN1I
pernumber, payable on delivery g..
X Subscriptions It ceived a. this oA.I'