Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-09
BIZ JOHN S.qyNDERSON.
TO THE, PTIPIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaEt
of the statesmen whose names are affixed "a
the Declaration of independence, the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exeriO,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and m
influence of their councils on the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has BEEN
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and oftenr
cherished forever in the hearts OF grateful
and generous people. The love of inJepep.
dence is interviewer with the. frame andcOn.
stitution of the human mind. II is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle /; and amongst al th.
actions and enterprises OF man, none ha;
awaked into activity greater exertionOfh
virtuous energies of his nature, none bias eI.
cited greater warmth of veneraOn, 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 tbehs
ro who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and digntyd
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features IRON ths
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the inps
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuty
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 thel
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiono
foreign power, to the distinguished eleyatng
of a sovereign and independent people; lky
have asserted and maintained the imprescIP.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, Aeiror.
tunes and their sacred bonors )" and, aslODg
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 togO'
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedln
the common and casual transaction OF lie,
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thal
implies the absence of every virtue (; il wa!
in the age of Caligula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor., !,
C The glory of our ancestors is the llgn!U
posterity," and the homage OF the llvIg can.
not be offered to the merits OF the lllus'liou
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom q
achieved by men who have humble or oTa'
nary objects in prospect. 1t lsby cenlehps.
ting the life and character OF those VINO az
marked out from the multitude by then EN-,
nent qualities, that we become emulouss:
their virtues and their renown. The tTopma
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepso OF htani
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eApIGl'ii w.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, 'ho T vs.
came the successful rival of bis fame ips
rude savage of the desert listens with Taplu.'
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs
round his hut the emblems ofhis tathers'a
lour. ,.r,,
More need not be said to enforce the ulln3
of the publication we have undertaken, dp.
which we now submit to the patronage OF ~.
fellow citizens. with hope, that from VI
Iiberality of their encouragement, we sn'J
De aDic 10 present IL ~ Tic Fupiie "" ',bs
their appreciation. We must depend lof W. VS.,
illustration OF many of the characters o. ~. Wv
biography, upon The generosity OF then s;t
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US h,a
whatever interesting materials may be III IH -.
possession for which, with our grateiusi o. q
acknowledgements, we promise copy % w
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be publiihed in numpel'Si
half volumes of 200 pages, octave Cd
contained in ten numbers. TO me l VI,
will be prefxed an appropriate n0 nr,t
piece--and the work will be comnen 9TH
with the declaration of independence g." ."i
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, a
compendious detail of the proceeolDSSsss
congress, during the passage OF ,Oe :. I'M IN.
Each OF the lives, unless when II Is rLs.
practicable, will be preceded 10y I les
ness of the person, engraved by 'D'
artists 10 the United States. ,osd,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ; md
expressly for the purpose, and as a,'cesp
to subscribers at t,yo dollars ana J9'y'
pernumber, payable on delivery o8;ce
~ Subscriptions received at tnis 0
0ctoher ~