Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-15
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaIi.io.
OF the statesmen whose names are AFFIXED n
the Declaration of independence. the npr,
lous occasion which demanded the eyertion
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the Interests Is
mankind, we must acknowledge that 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 commemoration. and Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence Is interviewer with the, frame and con.
sttution OF the human mind. lf is almos,
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions anu enterprises OF man, none has
aWaGed into activity greater eYerion of the
vlrtuouS energies Of bis nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration. and
has more impcrious 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
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity q.
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 impe-
rishabIe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic Of the perpetuit7
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, IRON the arbitrary dominion O.!
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and Independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, their for
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 benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds 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 it is 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 state Of Z
Brutus brought death on its possessor. 4
The glory of our ancestors is the light Oh B
posterity," and the homage Of the living can I
not be offered to the merits of the usfTlOuS Z
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions Eil seldom be s
achieved by men who have humble or oTGl-
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by centemPIa'
4. al NJ Ush
marked out from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emulouSS o.
their virtues and their renown. he iIoPhieS
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Ihemls.
tocIes; and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and ,t be-
came the successful rival of his fame ne
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs D.
round his hut the embiemS OF his father va
lour. ,,,-
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF ouL
fellow citizens, with hope, that from 'D Dc
liberality of their encouragement, we shs';
be able to present it to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend 10y a ane
illustration of many of the characters OF ~.
biography, upon The generosity oil i6el . sGt
vIving relatives ard friends, to furnish Us WE
vhateverlnteresti materialsm be ~ 81 iD c.,
possession for which, with our g'aleluf! t ~
acknowledgements, We promise copy Of w
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nuInOe's u
half volumss of 200 pages, octaE"' S ST
contained in ten numbers. 10 me ~. ~"
will be prefxed an appropriate ionnIi
piece-and the work will be comiHen ia
with the declaration of independence, wa wa
engraved fac Smiles Of the signatures, "a ga" of
compendiou, detail of the proceedIngIssT
congress, during the passage OF the 'i IN,
Each OF the lives, unless when it Is r !p
practicable, will be preceded by I ha.t
ness of the person, engraved by 'De ~
artists in the United States. ado
II. It will be printed on fine paper, .m. asid
expressly for the purpGse. and md d fdDte
number, payable on delivery sce
j ~ Subscri ptions received atthis ONCE