Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-11
By JOHN S.4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC


When we consider tia personal qualiie,
OF Inc statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration OF independence. the nar;.
lous occasion which demanded the ersr rfo
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek II
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an even
more worthy OF commentator, and Of heinz
cherished forever in The hearts of grateful
ana generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution Of the human mind. Ii is almo;
the first sentiment that anImates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none hss
awaked into activity greater exerton The
virtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has mora imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute 0.
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
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 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame Ii would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibiity to the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrioLs 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.
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 berefactors will not be lost TO the world; /
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundedn
The common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption 1t is vice thai /
implies the absence of every virtue 1t vas
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brulus brought death on its possesSor., Il
" The glory of our ancestors IS the llghI~
posterity," and the homage OF the IIyI can
not be offered to the merits OF the lIjus'FOu'
dead with an efectual or sterile admlraIIon'
Great and splendid actions will seldom Dc
achieved by men who have humble or oIal-
nary objects in prospect 1t IS BY c0n'empa.
ting the life and character OF those VINO ale
marked out from the multitude by their eur
nent qualities, that we become emuIouSS %
their virtues and their renown. ne IroPne'
of AIltiades interrupted The sleeps OF ! hemNrc
tocIes; and Theseus, hearing the exploits; Of
Hercules. was fired with his spirit ana o. De-
came the successful rival OF bis lame nc
rude savage OF the desert listens WIN rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors: ana nahgs al
round his hut the emblems OF his father Va
lour. :, .u,,I
More need not be said to enforce the utilI']
of the publication we have undertaken az
which we now submit to The patronage VI W l
fellow citizens. with hope, that irom w.
liberaIity of their encouragement, we SUD
be able TO present it 10 the public "ofthy
their appreciation. We must depend lof ~,
illustration OF many of the characters Of . o.,
biography, upon The generosity OF I'e.i sG
vrng relatives and friends, to furnish US w.
whatever interesting materials may 1e u; i" 90
possession for which, with our grateiIf! n
acknowledgements, we promise copy 0' W
entire work as compensation
CONDITIONS. "a,
|. The work will be publiihed in numoes md
half volumes of goo pages, octave fra
contained in ten numbers, 10 me ie,ni,.
will be pre6xed an appropriate l nnred
piece-and the work will be conner Nth
with the declaration of independence, . md
engraved fac SMILES of the SIGNATURE ns, Of
a compendious detail OF the pro1ee eSa law,
congress, during the passage OF Tue !. i'm,
Each Of the lives, unless when II like
practicable, will be preceded by ,So best
ness of the person, engraved by Tue
artists in the United States. o. made
II. It will be printed on fine pa "a Psa'Ii we're
expressly for the purpose, anu anu 1 Fin cent
TO subscribers at too dollar, ana. aaaJyy''
p u payable on delIye cry. of5 ee. +
as subscriptions received at this OH tt II