3087. FORTIFICATIONS, The Administration of Washington and.—
[Among]
the heads of the [President's] speech [considered
in cabinet] was a proposition to Congress
to fortify the principal harbors. I opposed
the expediency of the General Government's
undertaking it, and the expediency of
the President's proposing it. It was amended,
by substituting a proposition to adopt means
for enforcing respect to the jurisdiction of
the United States within its waters. * * *
The President acknowledged he had doubted
the expediency of undertaking it. * * *
The clause recommending the fortifications
was left out of the speech.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 182.
Ford ed., i, 269.
(Nov. 1793)
