Sir [In]dependence I have the honour to submit [strikethrough: ] In compliance with the request of the [strikethrough: Committee], the following [strikethrough: statements] exhibits and Observations relative to "The Committee [strikethrough: ] have wished to know [strikethrough: ] the actual state of the several fortifications in the U.S. and what the amount of the sums expended upon them respectively since the 1st day of March 1794" [strikethrough: it not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] than the [undecipherable] the general [undecipherable] the Secretary of [War] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] of them respectively [undecipherable] [several] states [where] have been undertaken a furnished since the year 1794 for the defence of our own harbours or such a depth to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] if [we] [neglected] [undecipherable] I think [undecipherable] might be attended with any inconvenience or danger, I shall [undecipherable] confine myself to the [undecipherable] amount [given] of them by [other] [acts] [regards] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my predecessor in his report to Congress [as] dated the 1795, there have been expended [and what amounts] the appropriations [to] [any] purpose either to [from] [undecipherable] the defence [undecipherable] described] The utility of securing as far as by adequate fortifications harbours & practicable [strikethrough: by fortifications] our sea-board from [strikethrough: [undecipherable] fortifications] may be considered as a [strikethrough: point] wind and invasion [strikethrough: appears to have been] to acquire has been assigned by [strikethrough: the] and established confirmed by the repeated [strikethrough: acts] Laws and appro. -priation made by Congress for the purpose A nation [strikethrough: which] must his [undecipherable] ambitious [projects] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] country [which] lays it down as an axiom, to avoid engaging in offensive [strikethrough: wars] and [strikethrough: confine] its military [strikethrough: preparations] to the [strikethrough: defensive] measures of defence, must pay particularly attention to strengthen its [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] pointers by strong and well combined fortifications: Each fortification on our [strikethrough: sea] coast becomes to [strikethrough: the] militia, a point of support which and [thus] defended by the regular troops [take] it becomes to the militia a ground of support Sir I have the honour to submit, in compliance with the request contained in your letter dated the [blank] [January?] ult, the following exhibits and observations relative to the "actual state of the several fortifications in the U.S. and the sums expended upon them respectively since the first day of March 1794. As a detailed or particular develop- ment of the several works which have been under- Taken or finished since the year 1794, for the defence of our harbours, were it made public, might be attended with some inconvenience or danger, I shall therefore confine myself to such general notices respecting their present state as appear to [strikethrough: within the] object of [undecipherable: intended] of the requisition of the Committee. The utility of securing our harbours and sea board from insults and invasion, as far as prac- ticable by adequate fortifications may be [con-] sidered as a point established by the repeated Laws and appropriations made by Congress for the purpose. A [strikethrough: Country] which renounces ambitious [projects] and [strikethrough: which] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] sea-board [undecipherable] [exposed] [to invasion] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: would] render [strikethrough: the] maintenance of a large military establishment unnecessary [strikethrough: and] [strikethrough: must be to] and at the same time which and at the same time [strikethrough: by] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: other nations,] must supply the place, by [enabling] a [strikethrough: means of] means of a system [strikethrough: upon its frontiers] [of] strong and well connected fortifications, which may be defended by a small force, and become points of support to its militia To a [strikethrough: nation] which renounces all views of Conquest and ambition [strikethrough: well connected chain] [strikethrough: the defence of it upon its] sea board and frontiers is indispensable to [strikethrough: its] safety. Such a system may [strikethrough: also] be while it enables a small force to defend a great extent of Country The actual position of the U.S. [undecipherable] To [points] in a particular manner to fortifications as an important [strikethrough: mean] [undecipherable] of defeme. To a nation which renounces, all ambitious [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] and [strikethrough: desires] and yet is exposed to The actual position and policy of the U.S. considered [if] we consider it to be the policy of the U.S. to engage in no wars of conquest, and [but] to confine her [This] is to be offered, [by] a [strikethrough: strong] [strikethrough: upon] sea board [strikethrough: of] [strikethrough: frontiers] and well connected chain of fortifications, [on] small military [strikethrough: base] establishment and a [strikethrough: large] [strikethrough: organized] militia [which can be] promptly brought to its support. I consider it among the [strikethrough: Duties] of primary obligations upon [strikethrough: a nation] is to secure the integrity of its [territory]. [It] it ought to be [sought] [as] a chief object [with] a chief government to give to [the] means provided for [that] [strikethrough: and see all those] the perfection of which [they] are susceptible. Two powerful motives most [requiring] a special and marked attention to [our] forti- :fications. [The] fortifications [are] [strikethrough: one capable of the spending of] providing against invasion, the other, the protection of our [ships] naval force & the magazines which its maintenance [requires].