Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/57858
there was a new nation plying these waters—the United States of America. Having secured its independence, the new republic laid the frame- work for national governance with the Constitution, and RQH RI WKH ÀUVW DFWV RI &RQ-; gress was to create the U.S. Treasury Department. Presi- dent George Washington appointed Alexander Hamil- WRQ DV WKH ÀUVW 6HFUHWDU\ RI WKH Treasury. One of Hamilton's pri- mary functions was "to superin- tend the collection of revenue," mainly via collectors of customs in the nation's ports.3 Alexander Hamilton The Revenue Cutters Even before he was named Treasury Secretary, Ham- ilton noted: "A few armed vessels, judiciously sta- tioned at the entrances of our ports, might at small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws." 4 The enterprising collector in Philadelphia, Sharp Delany, wrote Hamilton in October 1789, notifying him that he had procured a barge with a sail to ply the Dela- ware River between Philadelphia and New Castle, Del., to prevent smuggling. In February 1790, Delany again wrote Hamilton on the subject. Instead of reply- ing to Delany, Hamilton submitted a bill to Congress www.uscg.mil/proceedings to authorize establishment of a revenue marine with 10 cutters. After much debate, Congress enacted the bill and the cutter force was authorized on August 4, 1790. Initially referred to as the "Customs House Boats," this system of cutters came to be known as the Revenue Cutter Service. In 1915, after being combined with the United States Life-Saving Service, it became the United States Coast Guard.5 At the time of the founding of the Revenue Cutter Ser- vice there was no force to protect the maritime inter- ests of the young republic, as the Continental Navy had been disbanded and the ships sold by 1785.6 As such, though they were only intended to enforce the customs laws and prevent smuggling, the revenue continued on page 11 Ensign of the early U.S. Revenue Marine. All graphics FRXUWHV\ RI 86&* +LVWRULDQ¶V 2I¿FH Spring 2012 Proceedings 7