Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-19
By JOHN S-qNDERSOyN.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualitie,
Of the statesmen whose names are affixed IN
! the Declaration of Independence. the peri.
| lous occasion which demanded the exertion
| OF their wisdom and delberation, and the
| influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, 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 commentator, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of injepep.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitution 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
awaked into activity greater exerion Of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
| In al republican states the first tribute of
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he
| 70 who has promoted the cause of liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity 0!
| 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. IL would indie led
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuity
Of our republican institutions TO discover an
nsensibility to the obligations we owe sthe
memory of he iIusrioLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, tromtne arbitrary dominion Of
foreigp power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
| have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
| tioe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their So cred 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, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
the common and casual transaction of life -
Ingratitude. is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree O.
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age OF Caligula that the name oil The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor
''Tbe glory of our ancestors is the lightof
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits Of the iIustrious
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordi.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is BY conlempla.
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Mltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Ihenis..
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be.
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listenswith rapture
| to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the emblems of bis fathersya.
| lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage 0tou
| fellow citizens. With a hope, that from The
| Iiberality of their encouragement, VIC shall
be able 10 present it to the public worthy Of
| their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters OF our
biography, upon the generosity of tbeirsur.
viying relatives and friends, TO furnish US win
whatever interesting materialsmay be in then
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, We promise copy Of lhs
entire ork as a compensation.
| CONDITIONS.
l. The work will be publiihed in numbers o.
half volumes of goo pages, octave, ana
| contained in ten numbers. To The hi's
will be pre6xed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work viii be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, ano.
a eompendious detail OF the proceedings o.
] congress, during the passage Of the law
Each Of the lives, unless when il is Inl'
practicable, will be preceded ~ a IKE,
ness the person, engraved by The les'
artist. in the United States. ,.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, maui nd
/ expressly for the purpose, and delyfl.u
to subscribers at tzro dollars and ff'yetp'
]. pernumber, payable on delivery r..
~ Subscriptions re ceiyed at tins ONCE