The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-28
QUINCY, January 9, 1909.

SIR.
In my letter of the 26th of December, it
vas remarked, that the proclamatioh for
pressing seamen from our merchant ships
had not been sufficiently reprob2ted. Some
OF the reasons for that opinion will be found
IN the following commentaries, Mich VIC
written for private amusement, within few
days alter the appearance in public Of this
TEXT
4" Tie proclamation efthe King IF Great
britain. requiring The return qthis subjects,
he Seamen eAiaeciaHy, from foreign coun-
trfcs, 10 gid in This hour IF peculiar danger.
in drtence oftheir owns
" Rutu icing an acknoyvlcd@ed hyiacihlc,
that eUery nation has right 10 the service
Of IFS subjects IN lime Of goar, that brocIu-
nation could not furnish the slightest
grand for an embargo."
This partial description has tendency to
deceive many, and,no doubt has deceived
thousands. II is ce7ceatfne the ash in q
5aaket Cf.fgs. The dangerous, alarming s.
fatal, part ofthe proclamation, IS kept care
fully out of sight. Prociamations OF one Kind
are Of immemorial usage; but the present
one is the First of the kind. Proclamati6ns
OF the first kind, issued usually III the begin
ming OF war, are in effect but simple inpi .
tations tosubjects, who happen 10 be abroad,
toreturn homo. Todsny the right OF Tie king
to issue them, would be as unreasonable as
to deny his right to send card of invitation
to one Of his subjects to dine with him on St.
Georges Day. But in neither case is the
subject bound by law to accept the invitation
ASH - natural 60 every human mind to SYM
patnize with IT'S native country when in dis
tress or danger, it is well known that cons-
tera5lenuHtbers OF British cou,moniy return
home from various foreign countries, in con
sequence ofthese invitations by proclamation.
The British ambassadors, consuls, agents,
governors, and other officers give the procla-
nations Il general circulation, stimulate the
people TO return, and contrivc many means
to encourage and facilitate their passages
All this is very we'll; all this is within the
rules OF modesty, dcccnCy, law and Justice
no reasonable manwill object to it. But none
OF these proclamations, till this last, ever
asserted right to take British subjects, bv
force, from the ships OF foreign nations, any
more than from the cities and provinces of
foreign nations. On the other hand, it is e.
quaily clear, that British subjects in foreign
Countries are under no indispensable e5iiga
ton OF religion, morality, law or policy. to
return in compliance with such procla1pati
ons. Nopenalty is annexed by English laws
To any neglect; no, nor to any direct or for
NAL disobedience. Hundreds in fact, do neg
lcct and disobey the proclamations, to one
VINO complies with them. Thoueands who
nave formed establishments and tcttlcd ia
miles, or become naturalized, or made con-
tracts, or enlisted OH board merchant shiDs
or even ships Of war III foreign Countries, nav
no regard to these orders or invitations of
their former sovereign. Indeed, ali whe
nave become natuFalizcd in foreign countries.
OF entered into contracts OF any Kind, pui,iic
orpnVate, with governments, or merchants.
or farmers, or manufacturers have no rje.ht
toreturn, until they have fulfilled theircoVe-
nants and obligations. The President of the
=. states has as legal authority to issue SINH
lar prcciaInaticns, and they would be as much
respected by American citizens, all over the
globe But every American would say. his
compliance was voluntary, and none. whose
engagements abroad were incomyatjllp
would obey But cit is an Acknowledged
principle that every nation has a riarht TO
the service Of it, subjects in time of WARP
~ whom IS this principle acknowledged ,
BY no man, ibclieye, IN the unlin.:sed seos,
IN |iuch It is here asserted Wj.h certain.
qualifications anG restrictions, it may be adj
Mitted. WITHIN the realm and,hs own do
n.,nions the king has right to the service
~ MS subjects. az sea, and on land, by volun
tary ehiistments, and To send them abroad ON
f"icigr voyages, expedition and enterprizes
butt would be diiicnit to prove the rioh
"f any executive authority If free peontr
% compel free subjects into service sv
c2NscTptiohs or impreSsments, ike s4I,ev
iaYes, at the point of the baynnet. or 'b.rrre
the monthsOf field artillery Ex,reme case,
ana lmperiouS necessity, il Is said. hive ~,
law DO. saCh eNtrsmitIss ans xscessity ra.s,