Chapter IX. - An Act to provide for the Defence of certain Ports and Harbors in the United States. March 20, 1794.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following ports and harbors be fortified under the direction of the President of the United States, and at such time or times, as he may judge necessary, to wit: Portland in the district of Maine; Portsmouth in the state of New Hampshire; Gloucester, Salem, Marblehead and Boston, in the state of Massachusetts; Newport in the state of Rhode Island; New authorizes London in the state of Connecticut; New York; Philadelphia; Wilmington in the state of Delaware; Baltimore in the state of Maryland; Norfolk and Alexandria in the state of Virginia; Cape Fear river and Ocracock inlet in the state of North Carolina; Charleston and Georgetown in the state of South Carolina; and Savannah and Saint Mary's in the state of Georgia.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to employ, as garrisons in the said fortifications, or any of them, such of the troops on the military establish ment of the United States, as he may judge necessary; and to cause to be provided one hundred cannon, of a caliber each to carry a ball of thirty-two pounds weight, and one hundred other cannon, of a caliber each to carry a ball of twenty-four pounds weight, together with the carriages and implements necessary for the same, and carriages with the necessary implements for one hundred and fifty other cannon, with two hundred and fifty tons of cannon-shot.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to receive from any state (in behalf of the United States) a cession of the lands, on which any of the fortifications aforesaid, with the necessary buildings, may be erected, or intended to be erected; or where such cessions shall not be made, to purchase such lands, on behalf of the United States: Provided, that no purchase shall be made, where such lands are the property of a state.

APPROVED, March 20, 1794.

By George Washington

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