The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-10
Quincy, January 9, 1909.


SIR,
Irny letter OF the 2sth Of December il
was remarked that the proclamation for press
ing ssamen from our merchant ships had not
been sufficiently rcprobatcd. Some of the
reasons for that opinion will be found in the
following commentaries, which were written
for private amusement, within few days af-
ter the appearance in publick of this.
TEXT.
l1e Proclamation Of fhe Hing Of Grsaf
Br1faia, requiring nae return ofhis Subjects,
nc seanen esfeciaiiy, from foragn countries,
10 aid an his hour v fecnLar Danger, in de-
fence Of their osya."
/" B1f being an acknowledged h,fncihie,
that eue'g nation has right 10 rae service of
IFS subjects an sime Of spar, that Proclamation
could no.. os.firnish the slightest ground for an
embargo"
This partial description has tendency to
deceive many, and no doubt has deceived
thousands. IL is coaceoing The ash ia a 6as-
ket offgs. The dangerous alarming and ia
tai parofthe proclamation is kept carefully out
OF sight Proclamations of one Kind are of
immcmorial usage but the present one is
the first of the kind. Proclamations of the
first kind, issued usually in the beginning Of
war, are in effect but simple invitations to
subjects, who happen TO be abroad, to return
home. To deny the right of the king to is.
sue them, would be as unreasonable AS 10 de.
ny 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.
AS II is natural to every human mind TO SYM
pathize with its native country whga in dis
tress or danger, il is well known that consid-
cradle numbers OF British commonly return
home from various foreign countries, in con-
sequence of these invitations by proclama-
ri0Ms 4 nc -bsi<ish asnbaSsadcors, ccnsnls, q.
geHts, governors and other officers give the
.proclamations general circulation, stimulate
the people 10 return, and contrivc many
means to encourage and facilitate their pas.
sages. All this is very well all this is
within the rules Of modcsty, dcccncy,' law and
justice no reasonable man will object to il.
But none of these proclamations, till this last,
evepasserted right to take British subjects,
by force, from the ships of foreign nations
any more than from the cities and provinces
of foreign nations. On the other hand, il is
equally clear, that British subjects in foreign
countries are under no indispensable obliga-
ton ofreligion, morality, law or policy, TO re-
turn in compliance with such proclamations
No penalty is annexed by English laws to any
neglect no, nor to any direct or formal dis
obedience. Hundreds, in fact, DO neglect and
disobey the proclamations to one who COM
plies with them. Thousands who have for-
med establishments and settled families, or
become naturalized, or made contracts, or en-.
listed on board merchant ships, or even ships
of war in foreign countries, pay TO regard TO
these orders or invitations of their former
sovereign. Indeed, all who have become ma
turalized in foreign countries, or entered into
contracts Of any kind, publick or private, with
governments or merchants, or farmers, or
manufacturers, have no right TO return until
they have fulfilled their covenants and obli-
cations. The President OF the United States
has a legal authority to issue similar procla-
nations, and they would be as much respect
ed by American citizens, all over the globe.
But every American would sayvhis compli-
ance was voluntary, and none, whose engage
mcnts abroad were incompatible, would obey.
but sit Is an acknowledged principle, that
every nation has right to the service Of its
principle acknowledged BY no man, be-
hcSc, HI INC uilniHtcd sCnSC III "nfcn ~ II
here asscrted.--With certain qualifications
and restrictions 1t may be admitted. With
in the realm and his own dominions the King
has a right to the service of his subjects, at
sea and on land, by voluntary enlistments, and
to send them abroad ON foreign voyages, cx-
petitions and cntcrprizes-but it would be
difficult to prove the right Of any executive
authority of free people to compel free sub
jccts into service by conscrptions or impress
mcnts, like galfy slaves, at the point Of the
bayone;, or before the mouths OF field artillc-
ry. Extreme cases and imperious neccsd-
", it is said, hayc no Law but such oxtrcmi-
ties and necessity must be very obvious to the
whole nation, or freemen will not comply.
] Impressments, Of seamcn from British mer-
chantmen in port or at sea, are no better than
the consciptions of soldiers by Napoleon or
N = II