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Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Edition (1856)

NAVY. The whole shippings taken collectively, belonging to the government of
an independent nation; the ships belonging to private individuals are not
included in the navy.
2. The constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 8, vests in
congress the power to provide and maintain a navy."
3. Anterior to the war of 1812, the navy of the United States bad been
much neglected, and it was not until during the late war, when it fought
itself into notice, that the public attention was seriously attracted to it.
Some legislation favorable to it, then took place.
4. The act of January 2, 1813, 2 Story's L. U. S. 1282, authorized the
president of the United States, as soon as suitable materials could be
procured therefor, to cause to be built, equipped and employed, four ships
to rate not less than seventy-four guns, and six ships to rate forty-four
guns each. The sum of two millions five hundred thousand dollars is
appropriated for the purpose.
5. And by the act of March 3, 1813, 2 Story, L. U. S. 1313, the
president is further authorized to have built six sloops of war, and to have
built or procured such a number of sloops of war or other armed vessels, as
the public service may require on the lakes. The sum of nine hundred
thousand dollars is appropriated for this purpose, and to pay two hundred
thousand dollars for vessels already procured on the lakes.
6. The act of March 3, 1815, 2 Story, L. U. S. 1511, appropriates the
sum of two hundred thousand dollars annually for three years, towards the
purchase of a stock of materials for ship building.
7. The act of April 29, 1816, may be said to have been the first that
manifested the fostering care of congress. By, this act the sum of one
million of dollars per annum for eight years, including the sum of two
hundred thousand dollars per annum appropriated by the act of March 3, 1815,
is appropriated. And the president is authorized to cause to be built nine
ships, to rate not less than seventy-four guns each, and twelve ships to
rate not less than forty-four guns each, including one seventy-four and
three forty-four gun ships, authorized to be built by the act of January 2d,
1813. The third section of this act authorizes the president to procure
steam engines and all the imperishable materials for building three steam
batteries.
8. The act of March 3, 1821, 3 Story's L. U. S. 1820, repeals the first
section of the act of the 29th April, 1816, and instead of the appropriation
therein contained, appropriates the sum of five hundred thousand dollars per
annum for six years, from the year 1821 inclusive, to be applied to carry
into effect the purposes of the said act.
9. To repress piracy in the gulf of Mexico, the Act of 22d December,
1822, was passed, 3 St. L. U. S. 1873. It authorizes the president to
purchase or construct a sufficient number of vessels to repress piracy in
that gulf and the adjoining seas and territories. It appropriates one
hundred and sixty thousand dollars for the purpose.
10. The act of May 17, 1826, authorizes the suspension of the building
of one of the ships above authorized to be built, and authorizes the
president to purchase a ship of not less than the smallest class authorized
to be built by the act of 29th April, 1816.
11. The act of March 3, 1827, 3 St. L. U. S. 2070, appropriates five
hundred thousand dollars per annum for six years for the gradual improvement
of the navy of the United States, and authorizes the president to procure
materials for ship building. A further appropriation is made by the act of
March 2, 1833, 4 Sharsw. con. of St. L. U. S. 2346, of five hundred thousand
dollars annually for six years from and after, the third of March, 1833, for
the gradual improvement of the navy of the United States; and the president
is authorized to cause the above mentioned appropriation to be applied as
directed by the act of March 3, 1827.
12. For the rules and regulations of the navy of the United States, the
reader is referred to the act "for the better government of the navy of the
United States." 1 St. L. U. S. 761. Vide article Names of Ships.