Answer:
The quote means that America is willing to spend Millions for their defense but not one cent as Bribe
Explanation:
The XYZ affair was a diplomatic mission where by American diplomats were sent to meet up with French Diplomats in order to work together in stopping the looming Quasi war but the French Diplomats named / known as XYZ demanded that the American diplomats pay/bribe them before they would work with them, but the American diplomats declined.
America responded by saying they would rather spend millions of dollars defending its territories instead of paying a bribe to enable them work with the French diplomats.
