[W. a. Pattersons impr[undecipherable]] [undecipherable] Philadelphia [undecipherable]^th June 1799 Dear Sir. I have just received your favour of the 26^th of May last. You will see by the Law for raising the [undecipherable: probable reading "volunteer"] army (which is inclosed) that there is an [undecipherable: probable reading "express"] prohibition against allowing any pay to its officers till called into actual service. I doubt the propriety of the measure of [undecipherable] [undecipherable], at this juncture, and previous to any [undecipherable: probable reading "avowed"] or declared change in the intentions of France towards the U.S. upon such grounds as the following. 1^st. I consider the preservation of internal peace, and a due respect to our [undecipherable] by foreign nations, to be inseparably connected with the actual military force which may be kept up by the U.S. Without a force competent to these ends, we shall neither be able to secure what we possess, to prevent what we have just reason to apprehend, and still less, to obtain in the way of negotiation what we may want. When a foreign nation views this country, as valuable to the designs, which it may have upon it, or the good will it may intend towards it, will it not [undecipherable] estimate our military force, and our resources to support it. If the first is found to be insignificant, good intentions will not be much encouraged nor hostilities much deterred by the most prosperous appearances of the latter. The consequence [undecipherable] of the U.S. will be measured by France and other nations, by the strength of our regular army, and the [undecipherable] of its discipline. Do you think the eventual[undecipherable] added to the existing army, will form [undecipherable: probable reading "too"] great a force for the U.S. to maintain in the field amid the continuance of that dreadful [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which exists in Europe? These two, according to the present establishment, would not, were they [undecipherable] completed, much exceed 30,000 effectives. [undecipherable] It is demonstrable that we cannot depend upon our navy to guard our coasts and prevent invasions for a long time to come, consequently it behoves us to be strong [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on land, that we may feel secure against foreign enemies, and give [undecipherable] to our government. These are not times [undecipherable] upon the militia, or a [undecipherable] regular army. Rome [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to aid her in the conquest of [undecipherable]; and [undecipherable] to aid her in the conquest of [undecipherable]. Can we [undecipherable: probable reading "flatter"] ourselves that [undecipherable] may be the professions of France, while we see her pursuing with inflexible perseverance [undecipherable] Roman [undecipherable], that we shall be safe from her projects by armies upon paper? 2^d. Next to the having [undecipherable] [undecipherable] army in the field, as relating to the impressions expected from it, on foreign nations, and influence in the preservation of internal tranquility, is having all the appointments made, and arrangements prepared and ready, [undecipherable] to give it [undecipherable] existence at the breath of government. If no appointments are made, no organization decided on, no stores to be prepared for such an army, can it be supposed the law declaring that it may be resorted to will produce equally beneficial or any good effects whatever? 3^d. What would be the opinion of the well disposed and reflecting part of the community, should the events take place contemplated by the law, and it should then appear, that an indispensable [undecipherable] measure had been [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by the Executive? Shall we [undecipherable] government a problem by keeping it in a constant state of debility or weakness. This my dear [undecipherable] be a fact, that to this hour I have not been able to procure the materials from some of the Southern States for their proportion of the Officers of the 12. Regiments of Infantry. How will it do to [undecipherable: probable reading "postpone"] the selection for the eventual army till war or imminent danger of invasion should occur? Upon the whole it appears to me, that this step was necessary, and that certain local objections, or slight personal considerations, were not of sufficient magnitude to be put in opposition, to the good to be expected from the measure in question. I am my dear [undecipherable] with the same [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and esteem your ob^t [undecipherable] James McHenry [Judge Theodore Sedgwick]