In the mean time, they were to receive pay while assembled for the purpose of discipline, which was not to exceed twenty-four days in each year.
After stating the motives which led to the introduction of these resolutions, they were laid on the table for the consideration of the members.

Two days afterwards, a motion was made to take up that which related to an embargo; but this motion was negatived for the purpose of resuming the consideration of the commercial regulations which had been offered by Mr.Madison.On the motion of Mr.Nicholas, those resolutions were amended so as to subject the manufactures of Great Britain alone, instead of those of all nations having no commercial treaties with the United States, to the proposed augmentation of duties.

They were again debated with great earnestness, but no decision on them was made.
In addition to the objections urged against them as forming a commercial system in time of peace, they were said to be particularly inapplicable to the present moment.

If, as was believed, the United States were about to be forced into a war, the public counsels ought to be directed to measures of defence.

In that event, the resolutions would, at best, be useless.