Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-13
Declaration of Independence.
By JOHN S4NDERSO.N,
TO THE PUBIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal uuaEfe.
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the npT.
lous occasion which demanded the eyertinn
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and rho
influence OF their councils on the interests #
mankind, we must acknowledge that ya,r
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
VAN IN the annals OF nations, for an even.
more worthy OF commemoraton, and Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stltution OF the human mind Il is almost
the tTst sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaied INTO activity a greater exeriOn of the
vIrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of generation, 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 thphe-
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity q.
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 impe-
ri:hable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of the perpctuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibiIity 10 the obligations ne owe the
memory OF the illustroLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
atoreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip- /
tioIe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theiri for
tunes and their sacred hcnors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts et
their successors, the example OF these gene
rous benefactOrs will not be lost TO the ord; /
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be Conf0unded IN
the common and casual transaction OF life -
lDgrattude is vice that in nations, as well +
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of &
degeneracy and corruption ; it is vice thai !
implies the absence of every virtue il was 4
in the age of Caligula that the name OF tie Z
OCIpIOS w IDS lIlSl inc SIGlE U Z
Brutus brought death on its possessor
" The glory of our ancestors is the light OF s
posterity," and the homage Of the living car
not be offered to the merits OF the ilIustTlol'
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum1 or ord'
nary objects in prospect. II is by COntcmPIa
ting the life and character OF those who are &
marked out from the multitude by TIER EN-.
nent qualities, that We become emuIou;; o. s
their virtues and their renown. The trophies Z
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of LemIs
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits o. +
Hercules. was fired with his spirit and ,L Ge-
came the successful rival Of his tame. lie !
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs q
round his hut the embiems OF his father W. /
lour. ~.
More need not be said TO enforce the utIIl'{
of the publication we have undertaken enL
which We now submit 10 the patronage u ~. i
fellow citizens. with hope, that from l 'l'T +
iberality of their encouragement we sna'i
be able TO present il 10 the public Wo[Ny .!
their appreciation. We must depend Iof u.
Illustration OF many of the characters Of ou'
biography, upon the generosity Oh | I", 9TH
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us w.. W..
whatever interesting materials may be I 70 D &C.
possession for which, with our groisiuf. e ~
acknowledgements, We promise copy u 49,
entire " ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in nlOoe's NJ NJ
half volumes Of 2GO pages, oc'dIo' S Sn
contained in ten numbers. o 'pe "i
will be prefxed an appropriate n om",I
piece-and the work will be conhen .,;F
with the declaration Of independence, VIZ wa
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, "n,
compendiou: detail of the proceesSpl'GIssv
congress, during the passage OF me '?~
Each OF the lives, unless when II d ,:Tr-
practicable, will be preceded ny a ~ Ir,
ness of the person, engraved ~ 'He ~
artists in the United States. ado
ri. 1t will be printed on fine paper ; mad 3
expressly for the purpose, and ae H,,t,t,, Il
to subscribers at t1go dollars and GJty''' II
pernumber, payable on delivery H,e
~ Subscriptions received at tins onIIf
Gotobar 10