The United States had an increasing population, much individual wealth, and considerable national resources.

It was not believed that the expense of equipping a small naval armament for the protection of their commerce, would be insupportable.
It was, however, matter of surprise, that gentlemen who had deemed the improvement of American navigation, as a source of defence, an object of so much importance as to be anxious to wage an immediate commercial war with Great Britain for that purpose, should avow such a fixed determination against resorting to that resource in any degree whatever, under circumstances the most urgent.
The original resolution was carried only by a majority of two voices; but as the bill advanced, several members who were accustomed to vote in the opposition gave it their support; and, on the final question, a majority of eleven appeared in its favour.

The other branch of the legislature concurred, and it received the cordial assent of the President.
Pending these discussions, the irritations in which they commenced were greatly aggravated by accounts, that captures of American vessels by British cruisers were made to an extent altogether unprecedented; and early in March, an authentic paper was received which proved that those captures were not unauthorized.
On the sixth of November, 1793, additional instructions had been issued to the ships of war and privateers of Great Britain, requiring them to stop and detain all ships, laden with goods the produce of any colony belonging to France, or carrying provisions or other supplies to any such colony, and to bring the same, with their cargoes, to legal adjudication, in the British courts of admiralty.
These instructions made a serious impression on the most reflecting and moderate men in the United States.

It was believed that they originated in a spirit of hostility which must lead to war; and that it had now become the part of prudence to prepare for that event.
On the 12th of March, Mr.Sedgewick moved several resolutions, the objects of which were to raise a military force, and to authorize the President to lay an embargo.

The armament was to consist of fifteen thousand men, who should be brought into actual service in case of war with any European power, but not until war should break out.