Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-14
By JOHN S.4NDERsOw
TO THE PUBLIC

49, " liz UDLlE
When we consider the personal nr,r.
OF the statesmen whose names are .fHv"I " q
the Declaration of Independence tba 49,;
lous occasion which demanded tho Nv, PER-
OF their wisdom and delberation. a. i' tSo
influence OF their councils on the Interest. ~" -,
mankind, we must acknowledge that vorr
rarely more imposing spectacle hoe b ,oay
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commentator. and ofbe;no
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con-.
stitution Of the human mind. Il is Limos,
the first sentiment that anImates sbe infants
features in the cradle /; and amongst all The
actions and enterprises of man, none ba,
awaked into activity greater exertiop of tbe
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has eT.
cited greater warmth of veneratioD and
has more imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poIuca
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignityc
man. he animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from he
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 the imp.
rishabIe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor BILE prognoStic Of The perpetuiy
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the ilIustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, BY their
magnanlmty, from the arbitrary dominion o!
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tioIe rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, thertoI-
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 10 the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be coRfounded
The common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is a vice that IN nations, as WEI;
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption II Is wee tba
implies the absence of every virtue 1t vas
in the age of Caligula that the name OF 10;
Scipios was prescribed, that the state
Brulus brought death on its possessor' :, 8
s. The glory of our ancestors is the llgM~
posterty," and the homage OF the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the IusfrlOl'
dead with an elfectual or sterile admIraIlCu'
Great and splendid actions will seldom gs
achieved by men who have humble or oI.-
nary objects in prospect. 1t 10y cohlenra,
ting the life and character OF those VINO dc
marked out from the multitude by their eur
nent qualities, that we becomt emu0us =.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps of ihen;ff
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1plG''ih "
Hercules, was fired with his spirit ahu nv ys,
came the successful rival of his lame 10
rude savage OF the desert listens WIN rap!u 10
to the deeds of his ancestors, ana 6ahs'
round his hut the embIemS OF his lalhei S'a
lour. n.Ii.y
More need not be said to enforce the u'ill'{|
of the publication we have undertaken auu|
which we now submit to the patronage Oh Oh.
fellow citizens, with a hope, that rom 'nIi
liberality of their encouragement, we sn'
be able to present it TO the pubic woi r1I ~,
their appreciation. We must depend lo f wv W
OF many Of the characters 81 ~. Nv
biography, upon The generosity OF men Ia
y,ying relatives and friends, to iurnIsh Us NV
whatever interesting materials may pe 10 W." ~
possession for which, with our graIeI nf N N
acknowledgements, we promise copy Oh ~
entire work as compensation.
|. The work will be publiihed in number
half volumes Of 200 pages, =, 0c's ,ho Ss!
contained in ten numbers. o NC ionI,.
will be prefxed an appropriate ,n ,,Ur
pisce-and the work will be c 3 With
with the declaration of independence, md md
engraved fac SMILES of the Signature n,a rf
compcndious detail Of the prof;ee aGa ar,
CONGRESS. during the passage OF TIE :. l1 in.
Each OF the lives, unless when It = ike
practicable, will be preceded oy ID hest
ness of the person, engraved ~ Wv
artists ia the United States. rade
II. # viii be printed on fine paper n'Ii rd
expressly for the purpose anu ana qSsd"csnts
to subscribers at too dollars s. an~19''
pernumber, payable on aeltt ebG?s off ce.
y C,,bscr;ntions received al MS on'