He "considered navies altogether as very foolish things.
An immense quantity of property was spread on the water for no purpose whatever, which might have been employed by land to the best purpose." The suggestion that the United States should be a hermit nation was an indiscreet exposure of the logical significance of Madison's plan, and it perhaps turned the scale in favor of employing force.
The bill came up in the House for final passage on March 10, 1794.

Its opponents now sparred for time, but a motion to recommit in order to give opportunity for further consideration was defeated by 48 to 41.

Giles made a final effort, by a long and elaborate address, in which he argued that the effect of fitting out a navy would be to involve the United States in war with all the European Powers.

Moreover, a navy would be dangerous to American liberty.

"A navy is the most expensive of all means of defense, and the tyranny of governments consists in the expensiveness of their machinery." He pointed to the results of British naval policy.