[765] Reverend Ashbel Green, who was chaplain of Congress at the time, accounts for the presence of this quality in the proclamation in the following manner. The President requested Green to assist him by preparing a draft of such a proclamation as the latter deemed suitable for the purpose. Aware of the complaints that had been made respecting previous proclamations, on the ground that while they called the people to the religious duties of thanksgiving and fasting, they were yet somewhat lacking in the manifestation of “a decidedly Christian spirit,” Green resolved to prepare for the President’s benefit a proclamation of such a thoroughgoing evangelical character that no such objection could possibly be lodged against it. This he endeavored to do. The President adopted Greens draft and published it, “with only the alteration of two or three words out of all affecting the religious character of my [his] production.” (_The Life of Ashbel Green_, pp. 260 _et seq._) The “decidedly Christian spirit” of the proclamation did not make the instrument immune from criticism. “An Old Ecclesiastic” contributed a highly censorious article to the _Aurora_, sharply rebuking the President for proclaiming the fast, objecting also to his “very improper and impolitic ... language ... when speaking of the French nation,” and questioning his right to direct the people as to what they should pray for. _Cf._ _Aurora_, April 4, 1799. This article was copied by the _Independent Chronicle_ for the benefit of New England readers, and drew from “A Real Ecclesiastic” a valiant defence of the President’s action and language. In the eyes of this writer, “the observations ... by an Old Ecclesiastic ... are so artfully fitted to excite groundless suspicions and prejudices against that GREAT AND GOOD MAN [President Adams], and especially to prepossess unwary readers against the approaching Fast recommended by him, that it seems important to defeat the writer’s manifest intention by a few seasonable remarks.” The nation was a _Christian_ nation, and therefore the President had a right to _recommend_ the observance of a day of _Christian_ humiliation and prayer. _Cf._ _Massachusetts Mercury_, April 16, 1799. [766] _A Sermon, Exhibiting the Present Dangers, and Consequent Duties of the Citizens of the United States of America. Delivered at Charlestown, April 25, 1799, the day of the National Fast._ By Jedediah Morse, D. D., pastor of the church in Charlestown. Charlestown, 1799. [767] Morse, _op. cit._, p. 5. [768] Morse, _op. cit._ [769] _Ibid._, p. 9. [770] _Ibid._, p. 7. [771] _Ibid._, p. 9. [772] _Ibid._, p. 12.