To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, [ca. 13 July] 1812
From Albert Gallatin
[ca. 13 July 1812]
The monies approprd. by 1st. Sect. of Act herein mentioned, not being stated to be for the use of the navy cannot by the Secy. of the Treasury be ordered for that purpose.1
It must on the contrary be observed that the words used are the same wh. have in former laws been exclusively applied to fortifications & been accordingly placed under the controul of the Secy. of War.
A. G.
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM: “July: 1812.” Undated; date assigned by the editors on the basis of evidence presented in n. 1.
1. Gallatin wrote this note on the verso of a letter from Navy Secretary Paul Hamilton to Gallatin, dated 13 July 1812, which requested that Gallatin issue $50,000 to the “Treasurer of the navy,” Thomas Tucker, under the terms of a 5 July 1812 act “for the purposes of fortifying & defending the ports, harbours, & maritime frontier of the United States.” The first section of that act appropriated $500,000 for naval fortification and defense but did not stipulate that the money was to be channeled directly to the Navy Department (, 2:776–77).