Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-27
By JOHN S4NDERSON
TO THE pTpIIT

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal o,.,;t;,,
OF the statesmen whose names are afiyed tn
the Declaration Of independence. the nsr;
lous occasion which demanded the eyert;on
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and The
influence OF their councils on the interests o}
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 heinz
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
sttutlon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle !; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed INTO activity greater exertion OF the
vrtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of yeneraton, and
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 the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from tbe
grasp Of death, and the pen Of the historian
has Inscribed The achievements to the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor tbe prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibiiity to the obligations we owe the
Iu5t ~
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescTip-
tinle rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theil 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 beneactors 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
lngratitude 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 it was
in the age Of Caligula 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 lightoi
posterity," and the homage Of the living Can.
not be offered to the merits OF the illustrlouS
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die Or ordl'
nary objects in prospect. II is by c01templa'
ting the life and character OF those'who are
marked out from the multitude by their eni,
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renewn. The trophies
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps of Ihemls::
tocleS and Theseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emb!ems of his fathers va
lour. m
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ano
which we nov submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from Inc
liberality of their encouragement, we shall!
be able to present it to the public worthy 0!
their appreciation. We must depend tor the
illustration OF many Of the characters OF 0uF
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIE
whateverinteresting materalsmay be in thel'
possession for which, with our grateful &c; ac-
acknowledgements, we premise copy o! "9
entire " ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed in numbers 0;
half volumes Of eco pages, octave, sha
contained in ten numbers. TO the niS'
will be prefxed an appropriate iTonllsJ1
pieee-and the work will be commences
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
compendious detail Of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law :a
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS ~, lm
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved by Inc O''
artists 10 the United States. 40
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maui
expressly for the purPGSe, and and d sve.ns
pernumber, payable on delivery .s.e
~ Subscriptions re ceiyed at this Once