PROCLAMATIONS, Executive, docu ments issued by an executive in accordance with the powers conferred or in fulfillment of the duties imposed on him by the constitution or expressly by statute, or even in regard to mat ters toward which it becomes desirable or neces sary to draw the attention of the citizens. The issuance of such proclamations is not regulated by any general statute enacted by Congress, and for some, such as the Thanksgiving proclama tion, no provision whatever has been made. In accordance with the specific authority con ferred on him by the legislative branch of the government the executive may act with special authority in the sale of public lands, establish ing forest reserves, applying special provisions of the tariff act, regulating the treatment and status of alien enemies, the jurisdiction of foreign consuls over disputes among seamen, proclaiming a state of war, and extending pro visions of the copyright or patent laws to citi zens of another country, etc. In time of war
the executive's powers are vastly increased, in cluding regulation of railroads and other public carriers, food and fuel supplies, press censor ship, establishing blocades, granting pardon to deserters, internment of persons guilty of sediti ous utterances or of acts tending to impede the prosecution of the war, and not otherwise amenable to punishment or restraint. Presi dent Lincoln covered the greatest range in his proclamations, in several cases going to the ex tent of suspending the writ of habeas corpus in various places. The Supreme Court, how ever, condemned his suspension of the writ in localities outside the theatre of war. (See EXECUTWE ; PRESIDENT). Consult Fairlie, J. A., The National Administration of the United States' (New York 1905).