The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-12-27
TO the Editors nf ihe Jirginian.

10 me IH'bfS ~ ihe REtHIuH.
Genttenttn-W hutevcr relates to the his
tory of our revolutionary fathers, either in
their public or private spheres, has become
more interesting than ever to the American
people, in this advanced ern Of their exis-
tence, as the only free aud happy people
upon the earth. Chs is AS it should be !;
for II is quite natural for an enlightened race
of trccmen To revere the memory, emulate
the deeds, and cherish. II zest for the minu-
test incident in the lives Of iIlustrious ances-
tors who gave them ut once their descent
and their liberties. There nre doubtless
very numerous causes, which excite 50 live
ly sensibility 10 thu deeds and the fame
Of the worthless of '76, in the bosom of our
countrymen. Mary OF these compatriot
champions, possessing talent and virtue of
the highest grade are but little known to
postcrity, from the inadequate notice taken
of them in our historical annals, aud like
wise from the total absence on this side of
the Atlantic, of those grand displays. of art
which enable the great TO live forever in
sculptnred marble" and " monumental
bronze" To the lot of bu; few OF our most
distinguished sircs, has it yet fallen to be
hVbp'1h WIN t''u u diSlNHl anu utupIdDnI-
cal sketches of their lives and none but
Washington and Hamilton, it Is believed,
have been bodied forth in breathing
MARBLE" TO the view OF admiring ages.
Nehave no temples no "puhllc squares
in our cities, no magnificent museums where
we may repair and behold statues, nscrip
tons and records, cOnscCrated To the mem
DRY of the founders ofthis august republ-
can empire. W. have had our Solon's, our
Harmsdius's and Aristogiton's, our Aris-
tidess, Tully's and Brutus's but alas
they had might as well never lived, in re-
gard to the tribute paid them by their coun-
try =; for the feeble breath OF tradition is the
sole, precarious vehicle ofthcir renown, and
neither the pen of history nor the chiscl oil
the artist has been employed to give it bo-
dy and immortality. So much for the gla-
ring, unfortunate neglect which our people
have exhibited in preserving monuments OF
the history of those exalted spirits, who n,
chleved for them all the blessings of rational
and perfected liberty. In proportion TO
this past neglect, there seems to exist de
sire TO atone for its iSnomny rad obyiate
ITS consequences. Americans have, per
haps, more pride and curiosity than graft
tude in their national character and being
| conscious of having suffered their revom-
tionary characters to sink into oblivion,
they have determined as it were 10 snatch
Their names ifpossible from that gloomy
abyss. Accordingly, in the absence of
those splendid, corplete and durable me-
MORALS which should have been dedicated
IN time to the worthless of the revolution,
aud which would ever have afforded fam.
liar and animating acquaintance with their
history, we md our C0untrymcn of the pre-
sent day, under the humiating necessity
OF cleaning knowledge of them from
mere paragraphs in the newspapers. Scan
iy, however rs are such sources OF fnfor-
nation, it is pleasing to observe that even
The yeomanry of the land do look to them
with the greatest avidity, as furnishing
something like picture of the master spir-
its Of '76.
have attempted in the above desutory
remarks to account in part for the intense
interest cherished by the American people
Tor whatever affords them the least mfor-
maiion respecting the men Who figured in
The conflict for independence. III have 81
lar mistaken the causes ofthis moral pheno-
menon, beg forgiveness at the bar of en-
ilghtelnd public opinion. Atthe same time,
would observe,that'ther are Interior eau.
ses for the national predilection above spo-
ken OF, which rebound in higher ratio To
The credit OF the American people, than the
preceding structures would seem to admit
II, as has been intimated, Americans have
mere pride and curiosity than gratitude, ii
neFe sti!i sacrllegous to deny them I'LL pre-