In committee, resolutions were moved by Mr.Blount of North Carolina, declaratory of the sense of the house respecting its own power on the subject of treaties.

These resolutions take a position less untenable than had been maintained in argument, and rather inexplicit on an essential part of the question.

Disclaiming a power to interfere in making treaties, they assert the right of the house of representatives, whenever stipulations are made on subjects committed by the constitution to congress, to deliberate on the expediency of carrying them into effect, without deciding what degree of obligation the treaty possesses on the nation, so far as respects those points, previous to such deliberation.

After a debate in which the message was freely criticised, the resolutions were carried, fifty-seven voting in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the negative.
In the course of the month of March, the treaties with his Catholic majesty, and with the Dey of Algiers, had been ratified by the President, and were laid before congress.

On the 13th of April, in a committee of the whole house on the state of the union, the instant the chairman was seated, Mr.Sedgewick moved "that provision ought to be made by law for carrying into effect with good faith the treaties lately concluded with the Dey and Regency of Algiers, the King of Great Britain, the King of Spain, and certain Indian tribes north-west of the Ohio." This motion produced a warm altercation.