Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-16
By JOHN S.4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC. L
When we consider the personal ou,is. |
of the statesmen whose names are saysSs
the Declaration of independence, tbe ~,
lous occasion which demanded the eys r
OF their wisdom and deliberatiop andIa l
influence OF their councils on the Interest, y;
mankind, we must acknowledge that vs,v !
rarely a more imposing spectacle has bs.%,
offered TO the world, and we shall seek =
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy oil commemoration, and oibeipy l.
cherished forever in the hearts of grateiI +
and generous people. Tb. love of ibJepen. l
dence is interviewer with the, frame andr@, L
stitution of the human mind. Ii is amo,,
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the jpfn,s
features in the cradle ; and amongst all At
actions and enterprises of man. none h;
awaked into activity greater exerliono ih.
yjrtuous energies Of his nature, none has e,.
cited greater warmth of generation, ana
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 tbehe.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and l
maintained the independence and dignitydt
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 impt
rishable records OF fame Ii would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpeuiy +
of our republican institutions to disc0prsR
insensibility to the obligations we eve the
memory OF The illustriouS patrons OF Amenc;n
freedom. They have raised ns, by tbeu /
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the irlprescrp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theirior.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long |
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example OF these gene.
rous benelactors 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 and casual transaction of life
lngratitude 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 Caligula that the name Of The
Scipios was prescribed, that the stale Of
Bru,us brought death on its possessor.
=" The glory of our ancestors is the light Oh
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illusTOus
dead with an eifectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men wbo have humble or CIGl'
nary objects in prospect. 1t Shy contemPI''
ting the life and character of those RhoaTe
marked out from the multitude by Their enI;
nent qualities, that We become emnOUss O.
their virtues and their renown. 1hetIoPDH
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF lheDSir
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits"
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, aRd d Se'
came the successful rival of his fame. IH
rude savage of the desert listens with raPUs
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs"
round bis hut the emblems Cfhis lathersN'
lour. ~
More need not be said TO enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, aDl
which We now submit to The patronage lou
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 1s
liberality of their encouragement, we s"I
be able to present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend l0Im.
illustration OF many of the characters Of o@
biography, upon the generosity of ;heIrs!aS;
wing relatives and friends, to tuTnlshus W.
whatever interesting materials may be ~ iDs.
possession; for which, with our grateful. -.
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of ~
entire W ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be pubIiihed in numbers
half volumes of 200 pages, octave ~ ~,
contained in ten numbers. To the ""
will be prefxed an appropriate lronn5
piece-and the work will be conntpl;,SS
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved tacsimiles oftbe signatures W.
a compendious detail of the pIoceedlresSS
congress, during the passage OF the 'f IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS r ~
practicable, will be preceded by a ' ~.
ness of the person, engraved by 'he ~
artists in the United States. ..d,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, m,sl
expressly for the purpose, and d .a'.'.t,l
to subscribers at tsyo dollars rndJWyo"
pernumber, payable on delivery s,s
~ Subscriptions received at this oH't Il
0ctohar 10 u