Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-03
BIZ JOHN S,lNDERS0N,
TO THE pURIIr

~ ItiE PUBLIC.
When we consider The personal ouaIt;,s
of the statesmen whose names are Arrived ~
the Declaration of tnderendence. The npr;.
lous occasion which demanded the eysr,inn
OF their wisdom and dciberation, and rho
influence OF their councils On the interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge thu, yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, and We shall seek in
vain in the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy ot commemoraton and ofbeipq
cherished forever in tie hearts Ct grateful
and generous people. The love Of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution Of the human mind. Ii is almost
the iIrst sentiment that animateS the infants
features in the cradle and amongst ell the
actions and enterprises OF man, none has
aWaked into activity greater exertion of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of generation. and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and politba!
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been PAID to The patriot or The be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
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 to The imp.-
risbable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuiy
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensbihty 10 the obligations we owe the
memory OF 'he illustrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimiiy, from Inc arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of 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, tIleirior
tunes and their sacred honors; )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts O..
their SUCCESSORS, the example of these gene
rous benefactoys will not be lost TO the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
the common and casual transaction of life -
Ingratitude is a vice tina in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degrees Of
degeneracy and corruption : il is a-yiee thai
implies toe absence OF every virtue ; it was
in the age Of Caiigula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state CT
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
g The glory of our ancestors i: the light Of
postcrliys" and the homage Of the liyire Can
not be offered to the merits of The illustnCg
dead with an efcctual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved BY men WHO have hum Die or DID,
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by con'empl8'
ting the life and character of those who arc
marked out from the multitude by their chi.
reDt qualities, that we become emulOus o.
their virtues and their rCroWn. ] he trophe:
of Miltiades interrupted the Steers Of l'btHi;.
toCles and Thsseus, hearing the expIotsOi
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and le'
came the successful rival of his fame. Ih
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs g.
round his hut the cmblems ofhis fdtheI'su
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF The publication we have undertaken, 2ra
which We now submit 10 the patronage Otou'
fellow citizens. with hope, that from ne
liberality of their encouragement, we sail
he able to present it TO the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration OF many of the characters Of cnT
biography, upon the generosity OF theirsu!r
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whatevernteresting materials may be in thsel
possession; for which, with our grateful s'|
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of G'
entire V ERIK as compensation.
CoNDITIoNs.
|. The work will he pubIiihed in numberI II
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, .Ha|
contained in ten numbers. TO the tl.I
will be prehyed an appropriate frCDli|
piece-and The work viii be ccmmtDtifeeI
with the declaration OF independence, wiz
engraved fac similes Of the signatures, apI
eompendious detail of the proceedmg:eI
congress, during the passage OF The IaS
Each OF the lives, unless when ii is I'll
practicable, viii be preceded by lISeI
ness of the person, engraved by lie be.
artists in the United States. i
II. It will be printed on fine paper, nsyI
expressly for the purpose, and deliyeTe
to subscribers at too dollars and .ffyWS
pernpmber, payable on delivery
*x* Subscriptions received at this Once