3089. FORTIFICATIONS, Adequate.—
Some of [the injuries of the belligerent
powers] are of a nature to be met by
force only, and all of them may lead to
it. I cannot, therefore, but recommend
such preparations as circumstances call for.
The first object is to place our seaport towns
out of the danger of insult. Measures have
been already taken for furnishing them with
heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries
as may make a part of their defence
against armed vessels approaching them. In
aid of these it is desirable that we should
have a competent number of gun-boats; and
the number, to be competent, must be considerable.—
Fifth Annual Message. Washington ed. viii, 49.
Ford ed., viii, 391.
(1805)
