Naval Act of 1794

[3][4] From 1785 until 1797, the United States' only armed maritime service was the Revenue Marine, founded in 1790 at the prompting of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to enforce the nation's new export duties.

Jefferson's recommendations were initially met with indifference and even hostility from a Congress that feared both the expense and the political dominance of a powerful naval establishment.

The House of Representatives in 1786, and the Senate in 1791, discussed various proposals for a naval force, including estimates of costs for building frigates, but none were acted upon.

[1] Opposition to the bill was strong and a clause was added that should peace be established with Algiers the construction of the ships was to cease.

This was a major philosophical shift for the young Republic, many of whose leaders felt that a Navy would be too expensive to raise and maintain, and would unnecessarily provoke the European powers, in particular Great Britain.

[citation needed] In March 1796, as construction of the frigates slowly progressed, a peace accord was announced between the United States and Algiers.

[1] After some debate and prompting by President Washington, Congress passed an act on 20 April 1796, allowing the construction and funding to continue only on the three ships nearest to completion: United States,[8] Constellation[9] and Constitution.

Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the second of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.

WHEREAS the depredations committed by the Algerine corsairs on the commerce of the United States render it necessary that a naval force should be provided for its protection: Sec.

BE it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be authorized to provide, by purchase or otherwise, equip and employ four ships to carry forty four guns each, and two ships to carry thirty six guns each.

And be it further enacted, That the pay to be allowed to the petty officers, midshipmen, seamen, ordinary seamen and marines, shall be fixed by the President of the United States: Provided, That the whole sum to be given for the whole pay aforesaid, shall not exceed twenty seven thousand dollars per month, and that each of the said persons shall be entitled to one ration per day.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, That if a peace shall take place between the United States and the Regency of Algiers, that no farther proceeding be had under this act.