before appropriated, to make and complete, at the discretion of the President of the United States, the fortifications heretofore directed for certain ports and harbors, and to erect fortifications in any other place of places as the public safety shall require, in the opinion of the President of the United States; and which other fortifications he is hereby authorized to cause to be erected, under his direction from time to time as he shall judge necessary.
Sec. 2. States erecting or completing fortifications to be credited on account of balances reported against them. And be it further enacted, That where any state, which was found indebted to the United States, by the report of the commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States, and the individual states, shall, with the approbation of the President of the United States, proceed to finish or complete any fortification heretofore commenced by such state, for the defense of any port or harbor within the name, or shall, under the direction of the President of the United States, make and erect any additional fortifications, pursuant to the act, intituled 1797, ch. 3.“An act to provide for the further defence of the ports and harbors within the United States,” as well the previous expenditures made since the twentieth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, which shall be approved by the President of the United States, as the expenditures which have been, or which shall be directed by him, shall be allowed and credited to such state, on account of the balance found and reported, as aforesaid: Proviso.Provided, that no expenditure exceeding the balance found and reported against the respective state, shall be allowed as aforesaid; and provided, that the fortifications for which the whole, or any part of the expenditure, shall be so allowed and credited as aforesaid, with their privileges and appurtenances, shall be, and shall be declared and established as the property of the United States, while maintained by them.
Sec. 3. Part of former act repealed.
1797, ch. 3. And be it further enacted, That these words of the said act, intituled “An act for the further defence of the ports and harbors within the United States,” that is to say, “Provided, the said states shall, and do cede to the United States, the lands or places on which such fortifications shall be so erected, in cases where the lands are the property of such states,” shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.
Approved, May 3, 1798.
Statute Ⅱ.
[Obsolete.]
Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅧ.—An Act to enable the President of the United States to procure Cannon, Arms and Ammunition, and for other purposes.
Appropriation to purchase cannon, small arms, &c.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a sum not exceeding eight hundred thousand dollars, shall be, and hereby is appropriated, and shall and may be paid out of any monies not before appropriated, under the direction of the President of the United States, to purchase, as soon as may be, a sufficient number of cannon, also a supply of small arms, and of ammunition and military stores, to be deposited, and used, as will be most conducive to the public safety and defence, at the discretion of the President of the United States.
Sec. 2.President may establish foundries and armouries. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized, in case he shall find it impracticable, to procure by purchase, with certainty and dispatch proportionate to the necessities of the public service, the cannon and arms hereby required, and any considerable part thereof shall be likely to be deficient, to take, by lease, for a term of years, or by sale in fee, to the United States, one or more suitable place or places where cannon or small arms may be advantageously cast and manufactured, and shall and may there establish founderies and armouries for the manufacture of the same, respectively, and shall cause suitable artisans and laborers to be there