Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-05
BIZ JOHN S.fNDERSO.N.
TO THE PURIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cua!itie,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of Independence, the pen.
lous occasion which demanded the eyertm
OF their wisdom and deiberation, and tbe
influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemorative, and ofbeing
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
aud generous people Th. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all The
actions and enterprises of man, none ba
awaked into activity greater exertion Of The
'virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our grail
tude, than resistance to tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid TO Tie patriot or the he.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity 81
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his teatules from Il:
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the hisloriu |
has Inscribed the achievements to the imp
risbable records OF fame. 1t would indte|
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpeulg |
of our republican institutions to discover
insensibiity to the obligations We owe h |
memory of the illustrioLs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by TIER /
magnanimityz from the arbitrary dOmini06aF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevateI
of sovereign and independent people thgI
have asserted and maintained the imprescHrI
tiole rights of humanity by the "mutu
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, theiGD
tunes and their So cred honors - and, as CE
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word |
their names will not pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundedE
the common and CasuaI transaction OF lie =
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as We
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption ii is vice th &
implies the absence of every virtue ; ii Ea
in the age of Caligula that the name Of tie I
Scipios was prescribed, that the state
Brutus brought death on its possessor
:" The glory of our ancestors is the lighlGF
posterity," and the homage of the liyng oNI
not be offered to the merits OF the Ilustno1
dead with an effectual or sterile admHatrr
Great and splendid actions will seldom
achieved by men who have hum Die OF UtI
nary objects in prospect. Il is by conlenII
ting the life and chsra cter OF those nbOa
marked out trou the multitude Uy there
nent qualities, that we become enuCM l
their virtues and theirleDown. he TROPHY
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of 1Itnrt
tocles and Theseus, hearing The exploits
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, aDC III
came the successful rival of his fame ~
rude savage of the desert listens " Id raPH
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hang
round his hut the emblems ofhis idther!HI
lour. III
More need not be said to enforce the uIIi
of the publication we have undertaken !|
which we now submit 10 The patronage d%
fellow citizens. with hope, that iron III
liberality of their encouragement, We
be able to present it to the public WORTHY
their appreciation. We must depend tG[I
illustration OF many of the characters Of J
biography, upon the generosity OF ;beH:1 |
vlving relatives and friends, to furnishes 4
whaleverIntercsting materials may he Inh
possession for which, with our grateful Ill
acknowledgements, We promise copy o. Tx
entire " ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS. liz
|. The work will be publiihed innunbNI
half volumes of eco pages, octave I'll
contained in ten numbers. To the
will be prefxed an appropriate n@
piece-and the work will b. connnU
with the declaration of independence Iii
engraved fac Smiles of the sIgnatuEe,~H
compendiou. detail Of The proceeaniI I'LL
congress, during the passage OF me
Each OF the lives, unless when II y Nh
practicable, will be preceded bys.E
ness of the person, engraved ny INC
artists in the Uated States. III
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper mpsrI
expressly for the purpose, ano GEsGn,rI
to subscribers at tao dollars d"dJVg
pernumber, payable on delivery ,fa
~ Subscriptions received atlhlS or II