To it he ascribed the critical situation of the country.

Commercial intercourse could be protected by the consular system.

He then argued that the power to provide for expenses was the check intended by the Constitution.

To this Griswold answered that this doctrine of checks contained more mischief than Pandora's box; Bayard, that the checks were all directed to the executive, and that they would check and counter-check until they _stopped the wheels of government_.[6] When the President was manacled and at the mercy of the House they would be satisfied.

He held the executive to be the weakest branch of the government, because its powers are defined; but the limits of the House are undefined.
As the debate advanced, Nicholas declared that the purpose of the Republicans was to define the executive power and to put an end to its extension through their power over appropriations.