Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-01
By JOHN .S.4.VDERSO.N.
TO THE PuRIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal opal;t;oo
OF the statesmen whose names are afvad ;"
the Declaration Of independence. the nsr;,
lous occasion which demanded the eyert;on
oil their wisdom and deliberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle hes bepn
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain In the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration and Of beino
cherished forever in the hearts of graIe6fi
and generous people. The love of ndepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the flrst sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaked INTO activity a greater exerion of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute OF
genus has been paid to the patriot or the he
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity CT
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from The
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the impe
rlshable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no tavorlb bic prognoslic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensiblity to the obligations We owe the
memory OF the i!lustrioLs 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 indt pendent people; they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrip-
tinle rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their peGge OF their lives, theirfo for
tunes and their sacred nonOrs - 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 coniounded in
the common and casual transaction oi lite -
IDgratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il 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
Brulus brought death on its possessor
The glory Of our ancestors is the light OF
posterty, ami the homage Of the living can
not be offered to The merits OF the llusirOus
dead with an etfectua or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
achieved by men who have bum Die or ordl-'
nary objects in prospect. Ii is BY contempIa-
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emulous Of
their virtues and their renoWn. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF hens,
tocles 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 listens with rapture
TO the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round bis hut the embiems his fathers va
lour.
More need not be aid to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ara
which we now submit to The patronage Of our
fellow citizens, with 3 hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we snail
be able to present it to the public worthy o.
their appreciation. We must depend for The
of many of the characters OF oR
biography, upon The generosity OF ;bcT SUI.
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish us WIG
whateyerinterestng materialsmay be in ihel'
for which, with our grateful az
Acknowledgements, we promise copy OF mH
entire " ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers q :,
half volumes of geo pages, octave, ant
contained in ten numbers. 10 The nIN
will be prefxed an appropriate foniI:I1
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, ano,
compendious detail of The proceedings o.
congress, during the passage OF The IsEs
Each OF the lives, unless when il il IN
practicable, will be preceded ly me
ness of the person, engraved by The bts
artists 10 the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper. mace
expressly for the purpose, and dellvereu
10 subscribers at tao doliars md try ee'H'
pernunber, payable on delivery
n ~ Subscriptions receiYed at this once.