Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-23
By JOHN ,S.qyNDERSON.
TO THE PUBIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
when we consider the personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed nj
the Declaration of independence, the ppri.
lous occasion which demanded the eyerl;o,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and ibal
influence OF their councils on the Interests N
mankind, We must acknowledge thai yerv
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 eratetDi
and generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution OF the human mind. II is almost
the hrst sentiment that anmates the Infants
features IN the cradle /; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises OF man, none hasI
aWaEed into activity greater exertion Of tbeI
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey- ]
cited greater warmth of generation. apdI
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 the he
TO who has promoted TIE 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 Ct the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the impe-
rishable records OF fame 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostc of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibllity TO the obligations we owe The
memory of the illustrious patrons of American,
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrp-I
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, OF their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction Of life
lngratitude is a 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 Caligu)a that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor. :.
:" The glory of our ancestors is the llghtoi
posterity," and the homage of living can.
not be offered to the merits OF the lllustrIOus
dead with an eAectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oTGl'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by coniempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emI-
nent qualities, that we become emuouS o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Mltiades interrupted the sleeps OF IhenIsI,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploits Oh
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and OF 0e-
came the successful rival OF his fame. LIE
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the emblems Of This fathers va
lour. ,,..
More need not be said to enforce the u'lIIy
of the publication we have undertaken, aio
which we now submit 10 the patronage OF o.
fellow citizens. with hope, that from u, "
liberality of their encouragement. we Sn'J
be able 70 present it to the public worthy.
their appreciation. We must depend Tor To-
Illustration OF many Of the characters OF o~
biography, upon The generosity OF theIT sM
viving relatives and friends, to furnish US WIZ
whatever interesting materials may be N ns,,
possession for which, with our graelIfi H.
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. ~
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in nunoen ri
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave f fT
contained in ten numbers. To me %
will be pre6xed an appropriate hon~d
piece-and the work viii, be connenSSb
with the declaration of independence, S ,nI
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, ~f
compendiou: detail Of the proeeeIdlnf,,V
congress, during the passage OF me IN IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is rE r
practicable, will be preceded by ' bs.t
ness of the person, engraved by Inc "
artists in the United States. ,de
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ln" SSd
expressly for the purpose, and d Eeal.'.,sty
to subscribers at tro dollars and Jy'y''
pernumber, payable on delivery o#,e
i ~ Subscriptions received at this ONCE ONCE